Apple continues to prioritize the use of recycled materials in its products, as they accounted for nearly 20% of all materials used in its products in 2021.
According to Apple’s Environmental Progress Report 2022, released days before Earth Day on April 22, nearly 20% of all materials used in its products in 2021 were recycled, which represents the highest percentage of recycled content ever achieved. This includes 59% of all aluminum used, although some products feature a 100% recycled aluminum enclosure.
Apple also announces that 45% of rare earth elements and 30% of tin are recycled. Finally, around 13% of certified recycled cobalt is used in iPhone batteries, which can be dismantled by Daisy, Apple’s recycling robot, and then put back on the market.
Apple has drastically reduced the use of plastic in its iPhones
The technology company also announces that it has eliminated almost all plastic in its packaging. This material accounted for only 4% of packaging in 2021, and the new iPhone 13s of 2021 were the company’s first devices to contain no plastic packaging material. Apple hopes to eliminate all use of plastic in its packaging by 2025.
The iPhone 13 are therefore one of the most ecological products of the manufacturer at the moment. For the first time for an Apple device, recycled gold was for example used for the plating of the motherboard of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, as well as a cable for the front camera and the rear cameras of the device. According to Apple, this ” milestone is the result of pioneering work in traceability to establish a gold supply chain made up exclusively of recycled materials.
Apple notes that its net emissions remained stable in 2021a year in which its turnover increased by 33%. Its global operations have been carbon neutral since 2020and has been using 100% renewable energy to power its offices, stores and data centers since 2018. It should also be remembered that Apple had taken a big step forward in terms of ecology by removing the charger and the headphones of its iPhones in 2020. In addition to better protecting the environment against electronic waste, this strategy has above all saved the company nearly 6 billion euros.
Source : Apple
