Apple has just released its latest environmental development report, revealing a major leap in how it builds its popular devices. Last year, the tech giant was able to use more recycled materials than ever before across its range of phones, tablets, and computers. The company is determined to stop mining new plastics and metals to reduce its impact on the planet. This change requires greater collaboration across global supply chains.
The company is hitting thirty percent recycled content across devices
Finding new ways to reuse old parts is a big part of this new strategy. In the past, building consumer electronics required pulling a lot of new resources from the earth, putting a huge burden on local systems. Now, Apple relies heavily on found materials to make its new hardware.
Engineers spent years trying to find a way to maintain durability while swapping scrap metal for recycling. The latest data shows how much recycled material goes into its current hardware:
- In total, 30 percent of all materials used in Apple products last year came directly from recycled sources.
- The company now uses 100 percent cobalt in all custom-designed device batteries.
- All new aluminum covers for MacBooks and iPads are made entirely from 100 percent recycled aluminum.
- The magnets inside the device use 100 percent recycled elements from rare earths.
- The gold plating on most printed circuit boards now comes from completely recycled sources.
To replace these materials, the company uses custom machines. Apple relies on a line of special recyclable robots called Daisy, Cora, Dave, and Taz. These machines take apart old, damaged iPhones to separate the glass, plastic, and precious metals.
By carefully breaking down electronics, robots can return high-quality materials that recycling centers often miss or destroy during the normal sorting process. These recovered parts are then sent back into the supply chain to create the next generation of products.
This specific method of recycling keeps millions of pounds of electronic waste out of landfills and reduces the need to open new mining sites.
Clean energy projects play a major role in this project
Using recycled parts is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Apple still maintains a strong internal goal of being completely net neutral across its entire business by the end of the decade. Achieving that target requires manufacturing partners to run their factories with renewable energy such as wind and solar.
The company also invests in large solar farms to cover the electricity its customers use to charge their home appliances. Moving away from fossil fuels while increasing recycled components brings the company closer to building a clean smartphone from start to finish.