“From the recycled materials in our products, to the clean energy that powers our operations, our environmental work is integral to everything we make and to who we are. So we’ll keep pressing forward in the belief that great technology should be great for our users, and for the environment,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said.
Apple’s 2030 goal
Apple said that in 2022, it significantly expanded its use of key recycled metals, and now sources over two-thirds of all aluminium, nearly three-quarters of all rare earths, and more than 95% of all tungsten in Apple products from 100% recycled material.
The company aims at making all products with only recycled and renewable materials to achieve its goal of making every product carbon neutral by 2030. It is to be noted that Apple’s corporate operations run on 100% renewable electricity generated from solar, wind and other renewable sources.
“Our ambition to one day use 100% recycled and renewable materials in our products works hand in hand with Apple 2030: our goal to achieve carbon neutral products by 2030,” added Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives.
Mission 2025
According to the company, it has significantly expanded the use of 100% certified recycled cobalt over the past three years. In 2022, a quarter of all cobalt found in Apple products came from recycled material, which is essentially up from 135 the previous year. Apple uses Cobalt in batteries found in iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, and other products.
It also “greatly expanded” in the last year the use of 100% certified recycled rare earth elements – going from 45% in 2021 to 73% in 2022.
Apple noted that printed circuit boards will use 100% certified recycled gold plating by 2025, and the company will use 100% certified recycled tin soldering on all Apple-designed printed rigid and flexible circuit boards.
The company also said that in 2022, about 20% of all material shipped in Apple products came from recycled or renewable sources.
