Tech

Apple says its supply chain and products will be 100% carbon neutral by 2030

Key Points
  • Apple announced Tuesday that it aims to become entirely carbon neutral by 2030. 
  • The company's global corporate operations are already carbon neutral, so the announcement means that it will extend that goal to its manufacturing supply chain and product life cycle. 
  • In a filing last year, Apple said that it considers climate change a risk that could disrupt the company's operations and that investing in renewable energy makes good business sense for Apple.
Apple says it will be carbon neutral by 2030
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Apple says it will be carbon neutral by 2030

Apple announced Tuesday that it aims to become entirely carbon neutral by 2030.

The company's global corporate operations are already carbon neutral, so the announcement means that Apple will extend that goal to its manufacturing supply chain and product life cycle. 

It's in Apple's best interest to get its partners to help fight climate change. Apple said in a filing in 2019, for example, that severe weather caused by global warming could "cause a temporary disruption in production or the availability of component parts or finished products, in the availability of a data center, or in the availability or productivity of our workforce." A delay in parts would mean Apple might not be able to ship products on time, which could hurt the company's sales.

Many other companies have announced strategies to reduce their environmental footprint to combat climate change. Microsoft says it will be carbon negative by 2030, for example, and Amazon has committed to being carbon neutral by 2040

Apple last year convinced its top chipmaker and iPhone factory partner, TSMC and Foxconn, respectively, to commit to powering their operations with renewable energy. Several dozen other Apple suppliers have already agreed to use renewable power.

Apple plans to reduce carbon emissions by 75% within the decade and will develop "innovative carbon removal solutions" for the remaining 25% of its footprint. 

The company is also establishing an Impact Accelerator "that will focus on investing in minority-owned businesses that drive positive outcomes in its supply chain and in communities that are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards." 

"Businesses have a profound opportunity to help build a more sustainable future, one born of our common concern for the planet we share," CEO Tim Cook said in a news release. 

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