| Cult of Mac

There’s recycled gold in them there iPhones

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Daisy the robot can disassemble up to 1.2 million phones each year.
Daisy the robot can disassemble up to 1.2 million phones each year, helping Apple recover more valuable materials for recycling.
Photo: Apple

For the first time, Apple is putting certified recycled gold in the iPhone. It’s part of the company’s increased use of recycled content across its products. Because of these efforts, nearly 20% of all material used in Apple products in 2021 was recycled, a new high point for the company.

“As people around the world join in celebrating Earth Day, we are making real progress in our work to address the climate crisis and to one day make our products without taking anything from the earth,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, in a press release Tuesday.

Apple also added a new shredderbot that rips apart audio modules to its robot recycling crew.

Apple picks 15 Black- and Brown-owned businesses for new environmental Impact Accelerator

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Apple Store
Apple pushes for 'a greener and more equitable future for all people.'
Photo: Apple

Apple on Tuesday confirmed it has chosen 15 Black- and Brown-owned businesses for a first-of-its kind Impact Accelerator to support equity and opportunity in the environmental sector.

The move is part of Cupertino’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, aimed at combatting systematic barriers to opportunity, while also advancing innovative solutions for communities most impacted by climate change.

Apple’s VP of environment joins New Jersey Council on the Green Economy

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Apple VP Lisa Jackson showcases Apple's environmental efforts during the Gather Round event.
Lisa Jackson has led many of Apple's green initiatives.
Photo: Apple

Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, will join the New Jersey Council on the Green Economy, the state said Wednesday.

The council will focus on “expanding the green economy and building a diverse workforce” while supporting clean energy initiatives and anti-climate change goals.

Apple steps up renewable energy efforts in Europe with new investments

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Apple Denmark renewable energy
Apple will invest in two of the world's largest onshore wind turbines.
Photo: Apple

Apple on Thursday confirmed plans to expand its renewable energy footprint in Europe. Cupertino will invest in the world’s largest onshore wind turbines in Denmark and in new clean energy efforts in Germany.

The moves are part of Apple’s plan, announced last month, to become carbon neutral across its entire business and supply chain.

Apple meets Ukrainian politician following Crimea Maps controversy

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Apple meets Ukrainian politician following Crimea Maps controversy
Vadym Prystaiko previously told Apple to stay out of politics.
Photo: Vadym Prystaiko/Twitter

Lisa Jackson, Apple’s VP of environment, policy and social initiatives, met with Ukraine’s foreign minister at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This looks to be their first meeting after the recent controversy in which Apple displayed the annexed Crimea as Russian territory in two of its apps.

Vadym Prystaiko previously told Apple that it should stay out of politics, and stick to “high-tech and entertainment.”

Apple is helping to restore grasslands in Kenya’s Chyulu Hills

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Apple has partnered with Conservation International to fund restoration in Kenya’s Chyulu Hills.
Apple has partnered with Conservation International to fund conservation.
Photo: Ninara/Flickr CC

As part of its environmental efforts, Apple recently made a donation to nonprofit Conservation International. Apple’s money will help restore degraded grasslands in the Chyulu Hills of Kenya.

“By restoring tens of thousands of hectares in the Chyulu Hills, we can remove carbon from the air, protect a critical wildlife corridor for elephants, and support the livelihoods of the Maasai people,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s VP of environmental, social, and policy initiatives.

Apple massively expands its global recycling programs

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Apple iPhone recycling
Apple has already recycled nearly 1 million devices.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s efforts to be the greenest company in tech continue with a major expansion to its global recycling programs.

It will be easier than ever for customers to send old iPhone units off for recycling. Apple is also opening a new Material Recovery Lab in Austin, Texas. The lab will use robots and machine learning to improve the company’s recycling processes.

Apple expands coding initiatives in Indonesia and Singapore

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Apple coding initiative
It will be easier to access Apple's coding courses in Southeast Asia.
Photo: Apple

Apple this week confirmed the expansion of coding initiatives in Southeast Asia.

The company is opening a second Apple Developer Academy in Surabaya, Indonesia, to help aspiring developers. It also plans to expand its App Development with Swift curriculum at partner schools in Singapore.

Apple invests to save Colombian mangrove forest

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Apple invests in mangrove forests like this one. They could be key to fighting climate change.
Mangrove forests like this one could be key to fighting climate change.
Photo: Blue Forests/Flickr CC

Apple is on a mission to help save the world’s disappearing mangrove forests.

Mangrove forests suck up a huge amount of carbon dioxide from the air. Half of all mangrove forests on Earth have been lost since 1940, but Apple is making a big investment to help save one particular forest in Colombia in an effort to curb climate change.