Apple commits to reach carbon neutrality by latest 2030
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Joining the growing list of businesses creating sustainable roadmaps to fuel future growth, technology giant Apple has committed to reaching carbon neutrality in its supply chain and production by 2030.
Apple is already carbon neutral in its global corporate operations, but with this commitment, Apple will be removing 75 percent of its total carbon footprint while offsetting the remaining 25 percent with carbon removal solutions.
“Businesses have a profound opportunity to help build a more sustainable future, one born of our common concern for the planet we share,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook.
“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.”
Moving forward, Apple will lower its emissions through a number of initiatives, including a low carbon product design, investments in expanding energy efficiency, a continued focus on utilizing renewable energy, process, and material innovations, and the removal of carbon emissions.
“We’re proud of our environmental journey and the ambitious roadmap we have set for the future,” said Apple’s VP of environment, policy, and social initiatives Lisa Jackson.
The shift will be supported by Apple’s $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, which focuses on addressing education, economic equality, and criminal justice reform.
“Systemic racism and climate change are not separate issues, and they will not abide by separate solutions,” Jackson said.
“Businesses have a profound opportunity to help build a more sustainable future, one born of our common concern for the planet we share,”
“We have a generational opportunity to help build a greener and more just economy, one where we develop whole new industries in the pursuit of giving the next generation a planet worth calling home.”
Apple’s ten-year commitment mirrors that of many of its contemporaries, with Microsoft announcing in January not only would it be carbon negative by 2030, but it would retroactively remove all carbon it had emitted since the business’ founding in 1975 by 2050.
Swedish furniture firm Ikea, as well, is looking to become climate positive, or carbon-neutral, by 2030. The end goal is for all Ikea products to become 100 percent circular, using renewables and recycled materials.
“That means we will reduce more greenhouse gas emissions than our value chain emits while growing the Ikea business,” Ikea said.
“Our responsibility stretches across the entire value chain of our business: from the materials we use, manufacturing and transporting of products, our stores, customer travel and home deliveries, product use in customers’ homes and product end-of-life.
“By taking a scientific approach and working together with our partners, suppliers, and customers around the world, we will make it happen!”
And just last week, global retail marketplace and tech business Amazon announced a partnership with the We Mean Business coalition to further the Climate Pledge – an Amazon co-founder.
Questions & Answers
Q.What specifically does Apple's 2030 carbon neutrality commitment entail for its carbon footprint?
What specifically does Apple's 2030 carbon neutrality commitment entail for its carbon footprint?
Apple aims to remove 75 percent of its total carbon footprint through various initiatives. The remaining 25 percent will be addressed by offsetting with carbon removal solutions.
Q.What types of initiatives will Apple use to lower its emissions?
What types of initiatives will Apple use to lower its emissions?
Apple will lower emissions through low carbon product design, investments in energy efficiency, continued focus on renewable energy, process and material innovations, and the removal of carbon emissions.
Q.How does Apple's commitment compare to those made by other large businesses?
How does Apple's commitment compare to those made by other large businesses?
Apple's 2030 commitment mirrors others; Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 and remove all historical emissions by 2050, while Ikea plans to be climate positive or carbon-neutral by 2030.
Q.What role does the Racial Equity and Justice Initiative play in Apple's sustainability efforts?
What role does the Racial Equity and Justice Initiative play in Apple's sustainability efforts?
The $100 million initiative will support the shift towards sustainability. Apple views systemic racism and climate change as interconnected issues requiring combined solutions to build a greener, more just economy.
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