As our first carbon neutral product, Apple Watch marks a milestone in our plan to make all our products carbon neutral by 2030. We’re cutting the majority of emissions through innovations in materials, clean electricity, and low-carbon shipping. And we’re investing in nature-based projects to offset the small amount that remains. Because the earth won’t wait. Neither will we.
A plan designed for progress .A plan designed for progress .
20% of all material shipped in products in 2022* came from recycled and renewable sources.1
More than 300 suppliers, representing over 90% of our direct manufacturing spend, are committed to using 100% renewable electricity for all Apple production by 2030.2
80% reduction in shipping emissions of HomePod (2nd generation) through our transportation plan.
Over 70% reduction in average product energy use since 2008.3
More than 40,000 metric tons of electronic scrap directed to recycling in 2022.
Behind every Apple product is a plan for the future.
Made with more recycled and renewable materials.
Using recycled materials is one of the ways we can lower the carbon impact of our products, since these materials often have a lower carbon footprint than materials from primary sources. We’re sourcing more recycled content than ever, which brings us closer to our goal of one day making products with only recycled and renewable materials.
20% of all material shipped in products in 2022 came from recycled and renewable sources.1
The energy that goes into manufacturing our products makes up the majority of our carbon footprint. That’s why our suppliers are transitioning to electricity generated from solar, wind, and other renewable sources. So that by 2030, we can make every Apple product with 100% clean energy.
More than 300 suppliers, representing over 90% of our direct manufacturing spend, are committed to using 100% renewable electricity for all Apple production by 2030.2
Shipping products to retail locations and customers all over the world carries a significant carbon impact. So we’re prioritizing less carbon-intensive methods, such as rail, ocean, and electric vehicles.
80% reduction in shipping emissions of HomePod (2nd generation) through our transportation plan.
To lower the carbon footprint of Apple products in use around the world, we’re increasing their energy efficiency. And when it comes to the electricity our customers use to charge their Apple products, our goal is for it to be covered by 100% clean electricity.
Over 70% reduction in average product energy use since 2008.3
Apple products are designed to be durable and long lasting, and repair options can keep them in use for longer. We also prioritize end-of-life recycling when designing them. Because all our products contain the building blocks for new ones, our disassembly robots — Daisy, Dave, and Taz — take apart devices and components to recover crucial materials like gold, cobalt, tungsten, and rare earth elements. These recovered materials can then be used to build the next generation of products.4
More than 40,000 metric tons of electronic scrap directed to recycling in 2022.
We are prioritizing reductions that will erase the majority of our products’ carbon footprint across their life cycle. But some emissions are still currently unavoidable. To offset remaining emissions, we’re investing in high-quality carbon removal projects that help restore ecosystems and support local communities.
We made Apple Watch carbon neutral the Apple way — through innovations in design, engineering, and operations. Our approach tackles product carbon emissions from our three biggest sources: electricity, materials, and transportation.
Powered by 100% clean electricity
Made with over 30% recycled materials by weight
Shipped 50% or more without airplanes
Look for this new logo — it means your Apple Watch is carbon neutral.
Our first carbon neutral product is here.
Powered by 100% clean electricity.
Electricity represents over three-quarters of the Apple Watch carbon footprint — and the biggest part of that is manufacturing. Starting in 2023, the electricity used to make carbon neutral models of Apple Watch and watch bands will be sourced from 100% clean electricity. This continues our work, which began in 2015, to source renewable energy and build new infrastructure, like solar and wind farms, while helping our suppliers do the same.
To reduce emissions even further, we’re matching 100% of your expected electricity consumption to charge your carbon neutral Apple Watch by investing in renewable energy projects like the IP Radian Solar project in Brown County, Texas.5
Made with over 30% recycled materials by weight.
Since Series 5, Apple Watch has been made with 100% recycled aluminum in the case. Series 9 also uses 100% recycled materials in many of its components: gold in the plating and tin in the solder of multiple printed circuit boards, rare earth elements in the magnets, tungsten in the Taptic Engine,6 and copper foil in the main logic board. And in 2023, we added recycled cobalt in the battery of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 as part of our goal to use 100% recycled cobalt in all Apple-designed batteries by 2025.7 We’ve also redesigned one of our most popular bands, the Sport Loop, with 82% recycled yarn, some of which includes material from discarded fishing nets. With these combined innovations, an aluminum Series 9 paired with any new Sport Loop watch band now contains over 30% recycled content.8
Shipping an Apple product by ocean emits 95% less carbon dioxide, on average, than shipping the same device by air. By shipping 50% or more of the total weight of all carbon neutral Apple Watch models and bands using non-air modes of transportation — like ocean freight — from the factory to their next destination, we’re cutting total transportation emissions nearly in half. We also redesigned the Apple Watch packaging to be more compact — the smaller shape lets us ship up to 25% more watches per trip. And for the first time, this packaging is 100% fiber based.10 It’s the first milestone toward our commitment to remove plastic from all packaging by 2025.
78% reduction in the carbon footprint of an aluminum Series 9 with Sport Loop through innovations in recycled materials, clean electricity, and transportation.11
Investing in nature-based solutions. To offset the small amount of remaining emissions from Apple Watch Series 9, we’re investing in nature with high-quality carbon credits, including projects from the Restore Fund. In 2021, we partnered with Conservation International and Goldman Sachs to create the Restore Fund, investing up to $200 million in nature-based projects that restore critical forest, wetland, and grassland ecosystems, support local communities, and also aim to generate a financial return. In 2023, we doubled our investment in a new fund managed by Climate Asset Management. And every project we support must meet strict third-party standards of efficacy, impact, and permanence.
The proof is
in the products.
Closing the loop on carbon neutral.
Closing the loopon carbon neutral.
Cutting-edge design. Less carbon impact. Less carbon impact. All on your wrist.
Maximizing recycled and renewable content is key to Apple 2030 because these materials often have a lower carbon footprint than materials from primary sources. So we made our latest Apple Watch models and redesigned bands with more recycled content than ever.
Pairings that put the planet first.
There’s a carbon neutral combination for every new Apple Watch, and each has been certified carbon neutral by SCS Global Services, a leader in environmental standards and certification:
Apple Watch Series 9 with aluminum case paired with the new Sport Loop
Apple Watch SE paired with the new Sport Loop
Apple Watch Ultra 2 paired with the new Alpine Loop or Trail Loop
Innovation is woven into our bands.
Our redesigned bands are as durable and comfortable as ever. The new Sport Loop features 82% recycled yarn, some of which includes material from discarded fishing nets.12 And the new Trail Loop and Alpine Loop each contain over 30% recycled content.
To further reduce our carbon impact, we’ve decided to eliminate leather from all Apple products, including watch bands. In its place, we developed FineWoven, a luxurious new textile made with 68% post-consumer recycled content. FineWoven looks great on our Magnetic Link and Modern Buckle bands.
We also collaborated with Nike to design bands that reuse excess material and waste. The Nike Sport Band includes colorful flakes containing ground-up bands that create a randomized pattern, making each band unique. And the Nike Sport Loop is made with repurposed yarn from previous Sport Loop collections.
82%recycled yarn in the new Sport Loop, including material from discarded fishing nets.
A strong case for more recycled materials.
Apple Watch Series 9 and SE use 100% recycled aluminum in the case, as have all Apple Watch cases since Series 5. Our custom aerospace-grade aluminum alloy is lightweight, durable, and scratch resistant. We also significantly increased the amount of recycled material in Apple Watch Ultra 2 with cases that use 95% recycled titanium.13
100%recycled aluminum in Series 9 and SE cases.
Preserving the earth’s natural resources. One material at a time.
We’ve made great progress in transitioning metals and minerals to recycled sources. This reduces our dependence on mining, which is both carbon intensive and harmful to local ecosystems and communities. For the first time, we’re also using 100% recycled cobalt in the battery of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, a major achievement toward our goal of using 100% recycled cobalt in all our batteries by 2025.7 And we’re reusing materials that would otherwise be considered waste. For example, the antenna line of Apple Watch Ultra 2 is made with upcycled plastic water bottles that have been transformed into a stronger, high-performance material.
100%recycled cobalt in the battery of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Get all the details in our product environmental reports.
Energy-saving products reduce our carbon footprint. And yours.
Product energy use makes up almost a quarter of our total carbon footprint. It also has a direct impact on the carbon footprint of every Apple user. Designing products that require less energy is one of the major ways we can lower their carbon impact, even as they’re being used. In 2022, all eligible Apple devices received an ENERGY STAR® rating for superior energy efficiency.14 And the transition to Apple silicon in Mac computers continues to make impressive leaps in energy efficiency. Mac mini with M2 Pro has a nearly 50% reduction in carbon footprint compared with the previous generation, largely because of the efficiency of Apple silicon.15
Clean Energy Charging
We’ve made it easier for you to lower the carbon footprint of your iPhone, even while you’re charging it. When an iPhone is connected to a charger, the Clean Energy Charging feature in iOS 16.1 and later looks at the sources of the electricity during expected charge time and optimizes for when the grid is using cleaner energy sources like solar or wind.16 It’s one of the many ways we use software innovations to intelligently manage the energy our products consume.
Grid Forecast, a new tool in the Home app, shows when your local electric grid has cleaner or less clean energy sources available. Choosing to charge devices or electric vehicles, or to run appliances, during cleaner times may help you lower the climate impact of electricity use in your home.17 You can also add Grid Forecast as an iOS widget and watch face complication.
Using electricity from renewable sources to make Apple Products
Clean energy is no longer optional.
The emissions from manufacturing our products account for about 66% of our carbon footprint — but by transitioning to clean energy across our supply chain, we can erase the majority of that footprint. Since 2015, Apple’s Supplier Clean Energy Program has helped our manufacturing suppliers switch to electricity generated from solar, wind, and other renewable sources. We’ve more than tripled the amount of renewable electricity in our supply chain since 2019. And as the first Apple product built with 100% clean electricity, Apple Watch is a milestone in our transition to clean electricity for manufacturing. By 2030, Apple Watch will be joined by every Apple product.
17.4Mmetric tons of carbon emissions avoided in 2022 through the renewable energy online in our supply chain.
300+suppliers committed to transitioning to 100% renewable electricity for Apple production.
More recycled materials. More reasons to love.
The device you rely on most is made with more recycled materials .
What makes an iPhone an iPhone isn’t just its amazing camera, iconic look, or life-changing features — it’s also its recycled materials. Recycled content isn’t new to iPhone. We used recycled plastic in the speaker enclosures as early as iPhone 6. iPhone is continuing to pave the way in environmental innovation when it comes to recycled materials. Gold is an important component of hardware design, and thanks to industry-leading levels of traceability, we’ve made significant progress toward closing the loop on our gold supply chain. iPhone 13 was the first Apple product to use certified recycled gold. With iPhone 15, in addition to using 100% recycled gold in the wire of all cameras and the plating of multiple circuit boards, we’ve expanded its use to the USB‑C connector — a first for Apple.
iPhone 15 features many other fully recycled components, including recycled rare earth elements in all magnets, recycled tungsten and copper wire in the Taptic Engine, and recycled tin in the solder of multiple printed circuit boards. We’re also using 100% recycled copper foil in the main logic board and, for the first time, in the MagSafe inductive charger. And the iPhone 15 battery uses 100% recycled cobalt, a major achievement for iPhone and Apple.7 Even your unboxing is designed to be better for the planet — 68% of iPhone 15 packaging contains recycled fiber, and all the new wood fiber we use is responsibly sourced. All these recycled materials continue to make iPhone one of the most durable, safe, and powerful smartphones in the world.
Ever wonder about those tiny lines on the side of your phone? They’re easy to overlook, but these antenna lines are crucial to some of the most powerful features in iPhone. Antenna lines have to be made with nonmetallic materials so that each antenna can tune to different radio frequencies for Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi, and cell service and allow your device to connect. The antenna lines on iPhone 14 are made with upcycled plastic from bottles that have been transformed into a stronger, higher-performance material. And now we’ve expanded the use of upcycled plastic to the antenna lines of iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.18 It’s just one of the ways we’re reusing materials that would otherwise be considered waste.
Innovating how we get Apple products from manufacturers to you is just one way we’re working to reduce the carbon impact of our products around the world. Shipping a product by ocean is less carbon intensive than shipping it by air. In 2021, we launched Mac Studio, Studio Display, and AirPods (3rd generation) leveraging ocean transport from suppliers. Now we’re shipping 50% of all new Apple Watch models with non-air transportation from factories to their next destination. We’re also working with our suppliers to implement alternative fueling methods. As we progress toward our 2030 goal, we’re continuing to evaluate more carriers that offer delivery using electric vehicles and e‑bikes.
Aluminum with an edge.
Using recycled aluminum lowers the carbon impact of our products.
Aluminum gives many Apple products their iconic look and makes them both beautiful and durable. It’s also how we’re lowering our carbon footprint. Recycled aluminum has 1/40th the carbon footprint of aluminum from primary sources.19 Our 100% recycled aluminum alloy can be recycled indefinitely. We recover the high-quality aluminum scrap from our manufacturing processes, as well as from other post-industrial and post-consumer recycled sources, and put it back into new products. And we’ve expanded our use of recycled aluminum. We’re now using 100% recycled aluminum in the enclosures and cases of our most powerful devices — Mac mini, the 14‑inch and 16‑inch MacBook Pro models, MacBook Air, all iPad models, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch SE.
We’ve rethought how aluminum is made.
For products with enclosures made with primary aluminum, we prioritize using aluminum smelted with low-carbon electricity sources rather than fossil fuels. We’ve also partnered with aluminum manufacturers and the governments of Canada and Quebec to invest in ELYSIS, a revolutionary innovation in aluminum smelting that eliminates all direct greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, the first-ever commercial batch of emissions-free aluminum was used in the 16‑inch MacBook Pro.20 And in 2022, some iPhone SE enclosures were shipped with ELYSIS aluminum. All that recycled and low-carbon aluminum adds up to a big step toward becoming carbon neutral.
67%of the aluminum shipped in 2022 came from recycled sources.21
71%reduction in aluminum carbon emissions since 2015 by switching to recycled and low-carbon sources.
Recycled vibes only.
This is what recycled tungsten feels like.
The Taptic Engine creates all the vibrations produced by your iPhone and Apple Watch, from the steady buzz of an incoming phone call to the subtle sensation you feel on your wrist from an Apple Watch notification. These familiar vibrations are made possible by recycled tungsten. And with the help of our disassembly robots, Daisy, Dave, and Taz, the tungsten from the Taptic Engine can be recovered and recycled. So every vibration gets us closer to our goal of making new products without depleting Earth’s natural resources.
100%recycled tungsten in the Taptic Engine in all iPhone 15 models, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Apple Watch SE.6
95%of the tungsten we used in 2022 came from recycled sources.
Daisy can take it from here.
Recycled materials are the building blocks for new devices.
Apple products are designed to be durable and long lasting, and they can be repaired and refurbished to further extend their life. But when they reach the end of their life, the materials within can be used to make the next generation of products. At our Material Recovery Lab in Texas, we’re working to reclaim more of these building blocks with innovative tools and technologies.
Our team of disassembly robots, Daisy, Dave, and Taz, is leading the way in recovering crucial materials like gold, cobalt, tungsten, and rare earth elements from recycled devices. These collected materials make it back to the raw materials marketplace so that we, and others, can use recycled materials for the next generation of products. Improving the ways we source and recycle precious materials is one of the many ways we can reduce the carbon impact of our products while working toward our goal of making new products entirely with recycled and renewable materials.
1MTof recycled iPhone components has as much gold and copper as 2000 metric tons of mined rock.22
100%By 2025, we’ll use 100% recycled rare earth elements in all magnets, 100% recycled cobalt in every Apple-designed battery, and 100% recycled tin soldering and 100% recycled gold plating on all Apple-designed rigid and flexible printed circuit boards.23
Innovation means thinking inside the box.
Every unboxing is surprising, delightful, and recyclable .
Apple product packaging is designed to be better for the environment as it’s made and when it’s recycled. We’ve improved the overall recyclability of our packaging by redesigning components like product trays, plastic wrap, and foam cushioning with fiber-based materials that can break down in mixed-paper recycling streams alongside lower-quality materials like cereal boxes. All the more reason to recycle our packaging when you’re done with it.
Zero plastic in packaging by 2025.
The latest innovations in labeling and lamination are helping us address the remaining 4% of plastic in our packaging footprint. To eliminate the need for labels on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro packaging, we developed a custom, high-resolution printer that can print directly on the back of boxes. Eliminating these labels will avoid over 300 metric tons of plastic and more than 3700 metric tons of carbon emissions.24 A new overprint varnish that replaces the traditional plastic lamination also improves the recyclability of our packaging while maintaining the look and feel you know and love. And our ongoing work in improving packaging has paid off — all Apple Watch packaging is 100% fiber based and made with 100% recycled and renewably sourced wood fiber.
Our trees work for a living.
As we eliminate plastic across all of our packaging, we’re continuing to source wood fiber from recycled sources and responsibly managed forests.25 Through partnerships with The Conservation Fund and World Wildlife Fund, we’ve protected or improved the management of more than one million acres of working forests in the United States and China. In 2022, these forests generated enough responsibly sourced fiber to equal all the new wood fiber used in our packaging.26
96%of our overall product packaging is made with recycled and responsibly sourced wood fiber.
1100+metric tons of plastic avoided in 2022 by switching from plastic lamination to overprint varnish.
Climate action is community action.
Forestry as a force for change.
McIntosh County, Georgia
Black landowners are transforming the future of sustainable forestry.
The Conservation Fund, in partnership with Apple, is working to promote sustainable forestry practices and establish climate resilience in Black and Brown communities. Based in McIntosh County, Georgia, McIntosh S.E.E.D. began in 2015 as an effort to address the impacts of climate change in the coastal county, from severe drought and extreme heat to flooding from intensifying tropical storms and hurricanes. Since then, the program has expanded to educate and empower landowners with the tools to responsibly manage their land.
In December 2022, twenty landowners and their families visited the McIntosh S.E.E.D. Community Forest in Long County, Georgia, to attend the organization’s Sustainable Forest & Land Retention program. Together with their children and grandchildren, landowners met with forestry experts to discover and implement sustainable conservation practices while mitigating the effects of climate change on historically overlooked communities.
Even though our approach to designing, making, and shipping products with less environmental impact is already bringing us closer to our 2030 goal, there are some carbon emissions we can’t yet avoid. To remove these emissions from the atmosphere and reach our global climate targets, we’re investing in the world’s forests, wetlands, and grasslands. With Conservation International and Goldman Sachs, we created the first-of-its-kind Restore Fund to make investments in natural climate solutions while seeking to generate a financial return. Based on our learnings with these projects and the growing global need for more nature-based solutions, Apple announced an expansion to the Restore Fund in 2023. Apple has committed up to $200 million to be managed by Climate Asset Management, a joint venture between HSBC Asset Management and Pollination. This new fund will make investments in sustainable agriculture and other ecosystem assets, and build a pipeline of landscape restoration projects that aim to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. All of these efforts combined will help sequester carbon, restore ecosystems, and engage local and Indigenous communities while helping us become carbon neutral.
Mangrove restoration protects both ecosystems and communities.
Across the globe, Apple works with partners to continue the fight against climate change and the devastating effects it can have on the world’s most vulnerable communities. One such community is just 60 miles south of Mumbai, India. Apple, the Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF), and Conservation International are working together to protect the coastal area of Alibaug. Alibaug and its surrounding area are home to around 21,000 hectares of mangrove forests, whose natural processes can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it deep in their soil, plants, and sediment. Apple and our partners are committed to protecting and empowering these communities by transforming the local economy to one that relies on the safeguarding of the mangrove forest.
Clean energy benefits our company, our communities, and the environment.
As we continue our journey to becoming carbon neutral, we’re also focusing our efforts on democratizing access to renewable electricity around the world. Since 2019, our Power for Impact program has funded projects with clear carbon, ecological, and social benefits, giving local communities and organizations access to cost-effective energy while we retain the environmental attributes of each project.
Solar projects in the Philippines, Thailand, Nigeria, Vietnam, Colombia, Israel, and South Africa help provide cost-effective energy to communities facing energy challenges. Apple brought renewable energy to a South African community of over 3500 households that previously lacked access. And by funding new rooftop solar panel installations at a vocational school as well as a home for senior citizens, we’ve reduced their electricity costs, which will in turn help fund operating costs and expand programs to serve underserved groups.
The fight against climate change is a fight for economic equality.
Detroit, Michigan
Climate solutions can help dismantle systemic barriers.
Communities of color often bear the greatest impacts of climate change. Environmental solutions can help advance equity for these communities. The Impact Accelerator supports Black-, Hispanic/Latinx-, and Indigenous-owned businesses at the cutting edge of green technology and clean energy to champion equity and opportunity in the environmental sector. As part of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI), this program helps combat systemic barriers to opportunity while advancing innovative solutions for communities most affected by climate change.
In 2023, we announced our third class of the Impact Accelerator, which included 12 businesses that are leading environmental services and solutions. These businesses, based across the United States, are driving innovation in energy efficiency, water stewardship, recycling technologies, green building and engineering, and other environmental areas. Many are focused on bringing clean energy, opportunity, and vital services to underserved communities that are vulnerable to climate change. By connecting innovators, both in the Impact Accelerator and at Apple, we’re creating more opportunities for progress in our shared goals.
We’re already carbon neutral across our corporate operations and are on the way to making all our products carbon neutral by 2030. Learn more about our latest efforts to reduce our remaining carbon footprint, fight climate change, and support equity.
Apple has a rigorous program to ensure the safety of chemicals used in our products. Learn about Apple’s strict standards, detailed toxicological assessments, and methodology for assessing chemicals of concern.
We hold ourselves and our suppliers to the highest standards of labor and human rights, health and safety in the workplace, environmental practices, and the responsible sourcing of materials.
