Apple said Wednesday it has tripled its use of clean energy since 2020, among other benchmarks of progress toward its goal to reach carbon neutrality across its supply chain by 2030. And on Thursday, the iPhone giant released its full 2024 Environmental Progress Report.
“Clean energy and water are foundational to healthy communities and essential building blocks for a responsible business,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives.
“We’re racing toward our ambitious Apple 2030 climate goal while taking on the long-term work to transform electrical grids and restore watersheds to build a cleaner future for all.”
UPDATE: Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, on Thursday Apple released its much more detailed 2024 Environmental Progress Report, laying out its progress on environmental initiatives related to Apple 2030. For example, the iPhone giant said its greenhouse gas emissions are down 55% since 2015.
Apple clean energy use cited as progress toward 2030 carbon-neutrality goal
Apple’s statement is another semi-regular update on the company’s progress on environmental initiatives. The iPhone giant noted that it and many of its suppliers are now powered by over 18 gigawatts of clean electricity — more than triple the amount in 2020.
Apple characterized it this way:
“Over 320 suppliers — representing 95 percent of Apple’s direct manufacturing spend — have led the way in the transition so far, resulting in 16.5 gigawatts of renewable energy online in Apple’s supply chain today,” Apple said.
“This generated over 25.5 million megawatt-hours of clean energy across the supply chain last year, avoiding over 18.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions,” it added.
Apple also referred to its new investments in solar power in the United States and Europe “to help address the electricity customers use to charge and power their Apple devices.”
Photo: Apple
Further, Cupertino also put a focus on fresh water savings:
As part of its broader environmental efforts, Apple also advanced progress toward another ambitious 2030 goal. To replenish 100 percent of the fresh water used in corporate operations in high-stress locations. This includes launching new partnerships to deliver nearly 7 billion gallons in water benefits — from restoring aquifers and rivers, to funding access to drinking water — over the next 20 years.
“As with clean energy, Apple has extended its commitment to clean water across the entire supply chain: Together, Apple suppliers saved over 12 billion gallons of fresh water last year, for a total of 76 billion gallons in water savings since the company launched its Supplier Clean Water Program in 2013,” the company said.
Source: Apple
We first published this post on Wednesday, April 17, and republished it Thursday, April 18, to include the full 2024 Environmental Progress Report.
