Apple is on a mission to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, with a focus on reducing emissions by 75% from 2015 levels. Recent updates show that the company has already cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 55%, indicating significant progress towards its goal.
In a recent press release, Apple shared exciting insights into its carbon reduction milestones. The company revealed that in the past year alone, a record-breaking 12.8 million devices and accessories found new homes through initiatives like AppleCare and the Apple Trade-In program.
The Apple Trade-In program allows you to trade in your old device for credit towards a new one or an Apple Gift Card, making it easy to recycle your old device while saving money on a new purchase. Ever wondered what happens to your old iPhones when you trade them in? Apple has developed innovative technologies like Daisy, a disassembly robot that can break down 29 different iPhone models into 15 separate parts. Additionally, recycling machines named Dave and Taz are being used with a recycling partner in China.
To further enhance efficiency, Apple introduced a new product sorter at its asset recovery center in California this year. The company plans to expand this technology to recycling partners worldwide for better efficiency and productivity. The asset recovery center also utilizes autonomous mobile robots for product movement and collaborates with academic institutions like Carnegie Mellon to explore advanced recycling techniques using AI, machine learning, robotics, and automation.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain in the recycling department. Apple’s iPhone recycling program faced scrutiny due to theft and wastage issues, including the disappearance of thousands of pounds of gadgets from a recycling partner. Additionally, reports suggest that Apple has instructed its partners to destroy tens of thousands of devices that could have been refurbished instead.
Apple encourages customers to recycle their used devices at any Apple Store or through apple.com/recycle. The company is committed to responsibly recycling products that are no longer valuable, recovering valuable materials for use in future products while continuing to innovate in electronics recycling efforts.
