Apple Recycles Materials Where Possible, Its New iMac Serves As Its Proof
April 21, 2021Apple’s obsession with achieving “net zero” climate impact is forcing the company to rethink how it designs and manufactures its products. This includes the manufacturing supply chains and product life cycles of the entire business. Cupertino has given itself till 2030 to hit this target and the effects are already apparent in its new crop of devices.
This target means that every Apple device sold, from material collection, component manufacturing, assembly, transport, customer use, charging to recycling and material recovery needs to meet standards that are 100% carbon neutral. The new iMac is built using a “low-carbon” aluminum enclosure and its logic boards contain solder that uses 100% recycled tin.
The wood fiber of the computer’s packaging is 100% recycled or comes from a tree farm. The magnets in the speakers, fan motor, and power connector are made with 100% recycled rare earth elements. The same is true of the new iPad Pro. It’s made with 100% recycled aluminum and is the rare earth elements in the magnets of the speakers and enclosure.
Apple’s AirTag also uses 100% recycled tin in the solder of its logic board and is free of harmful substances. It too is packaged in boxes that are recycled or made from wood that comes from tree farms. The same is true of the Apple TV 4K, which utilizes 100% recycled aluminum in the Siri Remote enclosure, and recycled tin in the solder of the main logic board.
The list seems endless and Apple shows no signs of relenting anytime soon. The company also helps its partners and clients to alter their business practices to meet certain environmental standards. Cupertino’s goal is to make sure that its business practices don’t adversely affect the environment, which is why it chooses to rely heavily on renewable energy sources.
