To reduce its contributions to climate change, Cupertino tech behemoth Apple has just announced its plans to become completely carbon neutral by the year 2030. To reach this ambitious goal, they will slash their greenhouse gas pollution by 75 percent, along with finding ways in which to draw down the remaining 25 percent of heat-trapping emissions.
According to its 2020 Environmental Progress Report, Apple has already cut down its carbon dioxide emissions by 4.3 million metric tons last year. This means the tech company has seen a 35 percent drop in absolute carbon dioxide emissions since the company’s peak in 2015, while still managing to sell more products over the years. However, Apple still released 25.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, (which accounted for 76 percent of its carbon footprint), in 2019.
To cut back on its planet-heating pollution and to target a “net-zero climate impact” across its entire business, Apple now widely turns to recycled materials in addition to improving the energy efficiency of its products. On average its products now use 73 percent less energy than they did over a decade ago.
To reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral across its entire supply chain, meaning everything from manufacturing to the product life cycle, Apple is looking to work with suppliers that run on renewable energy. It will also further its efforts to recycle and recover materials from devices at the end of their lifespan, as well as develop new techniques such as a carbon-free aluminum smelting process.
Apple also aims to cut down on the carbon dioxide it’s responsible for releasing into the atmosphere and has committed to working with environmental groups like Conservation International to protect and restore forests and mangroves that draw in and store carbon dioxide naturally. On top of that, Apple pledged to invest $1 billion USD (approximately $1.4 billion CAD) in technologies that will help remove all of the carbon dioxides they pumped out since the company was founded.
“Businesses have a profound opportunity to help build a more sustainable future, one born of our common concern for the planet we share,” said Tim Cook, Apple CEO, in a statement. “Climate action can be the foundation for a new era of innovative potential, job creation, and durable economic growth. With our commitment to carbon neutrality, we hope to be a ripple in the pond that creates a much larger change.”
The first device in Apple’s lineup to be made of carbon-free aluminum will be the 16-inch MacBook Pro. This material is more sustainable than traditional aluminum, and it releases oxygen instead of greenhouse gases during the smelting process.
Apple’s announcement to become carbon neutral follows in the footsteps of tech giants Amazon and Microsoft, both of whom have set climate goals. This past April, Apple managed to become carbon neutral where its corporate operations are concerned, such as its facilities and business travel. Apple is also looking to purchase enough renewable energy to power its global operations.
