Apple : 2026 report
AAPL
Published on 04/16/2026 at 03:16 pm EDT
Environmental Progress Report
COVERING FISCAL YEAR 2025
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 2
Environmental initiatives
Apple 2030
9 Approach
12 Design and materials
21 Electricity
31 Direct GHG emissions
34 Nature and carbon
61 Approach
63 Mapping
65 Assessment
67 Innovation
Introduction
Reflections
Report highlights
Goals and progress
Cover photo: Apple's new investment, with The Conservation Fund, in the restoration and sustainable management of a working redwood forest in California.
Appendix
92 A: Corporate facilities energy supplement
100 B: Apple's life cycle assessment methodology
101 C: Assurance and review statements
109 D: Environment, Health and Safety Policy
110 E: ISO 14001 certification
Green Bond Impact Report
Apple's green bonds
Cumulative allocation:
2019 Green Bond
Featured projects
Sustainable Fitch Annual Review
89 Ernst & Young LLP Use of Proceeds Examination
Data
Greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon credits
Carbon footprints
Energy
Resources
Normalizing factors
Engagement and advocacy
Learning with others
Collaborative impact
Supporting communities
Contents
39
Approach
111
Report notes
41
Product longevity
112
End notes
46
Material recovery
51
Water
56
Zero waste
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 3
Reflections
WithourApple2030goal,weareworkingtobecome carbonneutralacrossourentirefootprintbytheendof thisdecade.Thatgoalisambitiousbydesign-notonly becausethechallengeisurgent,butbecauseinnovation isevenmoremeaningfulwhenitisguidedbypurpose.
Thisyear,weachievedmajorenvironmentalmilestones acrossmaterials,packaging,energyuse,water stewardship,andmore.ThelaunchofMacBookNeowas anenvironmentalmilestoneinitself,ourlowest-carbon MacBookwiththehighestrecycledcontentofanyApple devicetodate.
Aswepushourenvironmentalworkforward,wehave alsoexpandedopportunitiesforoursuppliersʼemployees tolearnnewskillsandadvanceintheircareers.Andwe continuetoadvanceourimportantworktoensurethatall peopleinoursupplychainunderstandtheirrightsandare treated with respect.
Weʼremakingprogressforpeopleandtheplanetevenas weʼvegrownourbusiness-areminderthatdoingwhatʼs rightcanalsodriveresilience,efficiency,andinnovation acrossourcompany. And,importantly,weʼredrivinghigh standardsacrossourindustryandbringingothersalong withusinourjourney-sharingwhatweʼvelearnedso ourpositiveimpactcanripplebeyondApple.
Tous,whatmattersmostisnʼtanyoneprojector benchmarkforprogress.Itʼshowalltheseeffortscome togetherinawaythatrespectsthedignityofpeopleat everylevelofoursupplychain,andbringsusclosertoa moresustainablefuture.Andateverystep,wecontinue to raise the bar of ambition and accountability.
Weʼremovingwithurgencyandpurposetokeepbuilding oneverythingweʼveachievedtogether,andweʼreso inspiredbyeveryone-acrossindustriesandaroundthe world-whoisonthisjourneywithus.Withthisreport, wehopetoinspireevenmoreprogressintheyearsahead.
ChiefOperatingOfficer
Ourgreenhousegasemissionscontinuetobemorethan 60 percentlowerthan2015levels,andweareproudto keepthisreductionsteadyeveninayearofsignificant businessgrowth.Additionally,arecord30percentofthe materialsweshippedinourproductslastyearcamefrom recycledsources - including recycledcobaltinevery batterywedesign,andrecycledrareearthelementsin everymagnet.Andafteradecadeofinnovation,weʼve achievedourgoaltoremoveplasticfromourpackaging, witheveryAppleproductnowshippingin100percent fiber-basedpackaging.
Wealsoreachedimportantenvironmentalmilestones inconservingnaturalresources.Weʼvealwaysbelieved thatprotectingwaterresourcesisessentialtothe healthandresilienceofourcommunities.Lastyear,
we workedwithoursupplierstosave17billiongallonsof freshwateracrossoursupplychain,andwereplenished morethanhalfofthefreshwaterwewithdrewforour corporateoperations.Thesearepowerfulexamplesofour commitmenttoupholdingthehigheststandardswhenit comestotheimpactwemakeonourcommunities,and everyoneacrossoursupplychain.
Theseincredibleresultsweremadepossiblebyyears ofengineering,design,andclosecollaborationacross Appleandoursupplychain.Together,weʼveshownthat innovationcanturnambitiousgoalsintomeasurable progress-anddemonstratedthatbusinessesdonʼtneed tochoosebetweenrapidgrowthandreducingemissions.
Weallhavearoletoplayinprotectingourplanet,and Appleiscommittedtodoingourpart.Weʼllkeepfinding partnerswhosharethiscommitment,andkeepcharting acourseforothersinourindustrytofollow.Thisis amomentofenormousopportunity-andveryhigh stakes - and wehavethepowertohelpbuildabetter futuretogether.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 4
Report highlights
Certified all eight Apple-owned data centers to the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard
100%
Achieved our goal to transition to 100 percent recycled cobalt, tin, gold, and rare earth elements in select components and applications2
100%
30%
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 5
Goals and progress
Apple2030isourscience-basedcommitmentto achievingcarbonneutralityforourentirecarbon footprint,includingtransitioningourentirevalue chainto100percentcleanelectricity.5
Becomecarbonneutralforourcorporateoperations.
100%
Achievecarbonneutralityacrossourvaluechainby2030.6
60%
Weʼrecommittedtoonedayusingonlyrecycled orrenewablematerialsinourproductsand packaging,andtoenhancingmaterialrecovery.7
Transitionto100percentrecycledcobalt,tin,gold,andrareearthelementsinselect componentsandapplicationsbytheendof2025.8
100%
Removeplasticsfromourpackagingbytheendof2025.9
100%
Weʼrecommittedtostewardingwaterresources andworkingtoeliminatewastesenttolandfills.
Replenishallofourcorporatefreshwaterwithdrawalsby2030.10
55%
CertifyallApple-owneddatacenterstotheAllianceforWaterStewardship(AWS)Standardby2025.
100%
IncreasesupplierparticipationintheSupplierCleanWaterProgram,prioritizinghighwaterstress locationsanddrivingparticipantstoanaverage50percentwaterreuserateby2030.11
43%
Increasecorporatefacilitieswastediversionrate.
Zerowastetolandfillsatallestablishedfinalassemblysites.
75%
100%
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX
2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 6
Environmental initiatives
IN THIS SECTION
Overview
Apple 2030 Approach Designandmaterials Electricity DirectGHGemissions Natureandcarbon
Resources Approach Productlongevity Materialrecovery Water Zerowaste
Smarter chemistry Approach Mapping Assessment Innovation
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 7
Apple 2030
Apple2030isourgoaltobecarbonneutralacross ourvaluechain.Ouraimistoreduceourgreenhouse gasemissionsby75percentcomparedwith2015, beforebalancingtheremainingemissions-starting withnature-basedsolutionsthatadheretorigorous internationalstandards.
Designandmaterials Electricity12 DirectGHGemissions Natureandcarbon
Environmental initiatives
Resources
Weaimtoresponsiblysourcerecycledandrenewable materials,makedurable,long-lastingproductsand enhancematerialrecovery.Andweʼrecommittedto stewardingwaterresourcesandworkingtoeliminate wastesenttolandfills.
Productlongevity Materialrecovery Water Zerowaste
Smarter chemistry
Throughchemistryinnovationandmaterialselection, wedesignourproductstobestserveourpriorities ofsafety,performance,andtheenvironment.
Mapping Assessment Innovation
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX
2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 8
Apple 2030
IN THIS SECTION
Approach Designandmaterials Electricity DirectGHGemissions Natureandcarbon
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 9
Our approach to Apple 2030
We're committed to our ambitious, science-based Apple 2030 goal to become carbon neutral across our value chain. Our aim is
to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent compared with 2015, before
FrameworkProposalforScience-aligned CorporateClimateAction
GreenBondImpactReport CDPCorporate2025QuestionnaireResponse ProductEnvironmentalReports
balancing the remaining emissions - starting with nature-based solutions that adhere to rigorous international standards. And we're directing our efforts toward decarbonizing the largest sources of CO2e emissions. We've cut emissions across our value chain by more than 60 percent since 2015. During the same period, our revenue grew by 78 percent.
Wetransitionedtosourcing100percentrenewableelectricity forouroffices,retailstores,anddatacentersin2018and firstachievedcarbonneutralityforourcorporateemissions in2020.Andweʼveagainachievedcarbonneutralityforour corporateemissionsin2025.13
Decarbonizingoursupplychainisacrucialcomponentof oureffortsasitrepresentsthelargestportionofourcarbon footprint.Weʼredrivingprogressbyrequiringsuppliersto sourcerenewableenergyandincreasetheuseofrecycled andrenewablematerialsinthemanufacturingofourproducts. Ourinitiativesemphasizeachievingemissionsreductions beforeapplyingcarboncredits.
Scienceandtransparencyguideourefforts.Ourgoal tobecarbonneutralby2030isconsistentwiththe IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChangeʼs(IPCC) recommendationforglobalcarbonneutrality.14Andourtarget alignswithwhatcurrentclimatescienceshowsisnecessary toadheretoa1.5°Cpathwaywithnoorlimitedovershoot.15
Weʼrealsocommittedtoworkingtowardreachinga
90percentreductioninemissionsfromour2015baseline by2050.Reducingemissionsby90percentwillrequirea collective,globaleffortacrossindustriesandeconomies. Andwhilereachinga90percentreductioninemissions isoutsideAppleʼsoranyonecompanyʼscontrol,weʼre committedtotakingactionsthatsupportthisinitiative.To catalyzechangebeyondourfootprint,weʼreengagingwith stakeholdersandcommunitiestoidentifyopportunitiesto decarbonizethebroaderindustry.Formoredetails,readour EngagementandAdvocacysection.
DIRECT GHG EMISSIONS
Reducingdirectgreenhousegasemissions acrossourfacilitiesandsupplychain throughprocessinnovation,emissions abatement,andshiftingawayfrom
fossilfuels
NATURE AND CARBON
Inparallelwithouremissionsreduction efforts,scalingupinvestmentsin carbonremovalprojects,startingwith nature-basedsolutionsthatcanprotect andrestoreecosystems
DESIGN AND MATERIALS
Designingproductsandmanufacturing processestobelesscarbonintensive throughthoughtfulmaterialselection, increasedmaterialefficiency,greater productenergyefficiency,useofrecycled andrenewablematerialsinourproductsand packaging,andenhancedmaterialrecovery
ELECTRICITY
Increasingenergyefficiencyatbothours andoursuppliersʼfacilitiesandtransitioning theelectricitythroughoutourentirevalue chain-includingmanufacturingandour customersʼproductuse-to100percent cleanelectricityby2030
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 10
Ourgoalistobecarbonneutralacrossourvaluechain.
REDUCTION IN GROSS EMISSIONS BY 2030
60
Avoidedemissions
Designandmaterials
40
Electricity
DirectGHGemissions
HISTORICAL EMISSIONS
PROJECTED EMISSIONS (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
Wecalculateourfootprintacrossourentirevaluechain, coveringbothdirectandproduct-relatedemissions-from sourcingmaterialstoendoflife.Theresultsofourdetailed carbonaccountingprovidethebasistoadjustourApple2030 roadmap,whichlaysoutourplantobecomecarbonneutral, asnecessary.Andweʼrecommittedtodisclosingourcarbon footprint,aswellasourclimatestrategyandprogress.
Achieving progress that benefits business
Weunderpinourclimatestrategywithstrongbusiness principlesandinnovation,harnessingthepowerofmarkets toreplicateoursolutionsatscale-aimingtocreatethe impactnecessarytomeetglobalreductiontargets.Weʼre alsoworkingtoacceleratetheglobaltransitiontoward decarbonization,engagingwithoursupplychainpartnersto explorethenextgenerationofsolutions,andadvocatingfor effectivepolicies.Theseeffortsincludefosteringnewand
REMAINING FOOTPRINT
20
0
Emissionsoffsets
strengthenedcollaborationsinpublicandprivatepartnerships andinvestingintechnologicaladvancements.Weʼvealso issued$4.7billioningreenbondstomodelhowbusinesses candriveinvestmentstoreduceglobalemissions.Tolearn moreaboutthiswork,readourGreenBondImpactReport.
Carbonoffsets
MILLION METRIC TONS CO2E PER FISCAL YEAR 2015 2020 2025 2030
GROSS EMISSIONS 38.4 22.6 15.3
CARBON OFFSETS - 0.07 0.7
NET EMISSIONS 38.4 22.5 14.5
* Errorbars:Weʼrecontinuouslyrefiningourmethodologyaswellasboundariesto modelourcarbonfootprint,butinherentuncertaintyremainsinmodelinggreenhouse gasemissions,asillustratedbytheerrorbarsinthisgraphic.Theerrorbarsare basedonassumptions,standards,metrics,andmeasurementsbelievedtobe reasonableatthetimeofpreparation,butshouldnotbeconsideredguaranteesthat anyerrorwillfallwithintherangeindicatedbythegraphs.
Note:Totalsmightnotaddupduetorounding.
Grossemissions Emissionsrangefrom modelinguncertainty*
Projectedgrossemissions Projectedemissionsoffsets
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 11
Apple's comprehensive carbon footprint
14.5MMT
GOAL
Achievecarbonneutralityacrossourentire valuechainby2030-reducingrelated emissionsby75percentcomparedwith2015
60%
43MMT
Product footprint MetrictonsCO2e
26M AVOIDED
SUPPLIER CLEAN ENERGY
2M AVOIDED SUPPLIER ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
53%
PRODUCT MANUFACTURING (SCOPE 3)
27%
16%
<1%
PRODUCT USE (SCOPE 3)
PRODUCT TRANSPORT (SCOPE 3)
END-OF-LIFE PRODUCT PROCESSES (SCOPE 3)
0.8M AVOIDED
PRODUCT USE CLEAN ENERGY†
7M AVOIDED DIRECT EMISSIONS ABATEMENT‡‡
6M AVOIDED LOW-CARBON MATERIALS**
Weestimatethatin2025,ourenvironmentalprograms avoided43millionmetrictons(MMT)ofemissionsacrossall scopes.Ourlong-standinginitiativescontinuetoyieldclear results,includingsourcing100percentrenewableenergy forourfacilitiesandmakingprogresstowardtransitioning supplierstorenewableenergyandusinglow-carbonmaterials inourproducts.16Whileourrevenuehasgrownby78percent
since2015,ourgrossemissionshavedecreasedbymorethan
Corporate footprint MetrictonsCO2e
60percentduringthesameperiod.
<1%
<1%
3%
DIRECT EMISSIONS (SCOPE 1)
ELECTRICITY (SCOPE 2)
BUSINESS OPERATIONS‡ (SCOPE 3)
0.1M AVOIDED
CORPORATE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
1M AVOIDED
USE OF RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY
1M AVOIDED
USE OF RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY
* Netgreenhousegasemissionsrepresentourtotalgrossfootprintminuscarbon offsets.Percentagesshownforeachemissionscategoryrepresenttheshareof Appleʼsgrossfootprint.Annualavoidedemissionsmayexceedthereductionin emissionsfromourbaselinefootprintduetovariousfactors,suchasbusiness growth.Totalsadduptomorethan100percentduetorounding.
**Low-carbonmaterialsrepresentemissionssavingsfromtransitioningtorecycled materialsinourproductsandusinglow-carbonaluminum.Fordetails,seepage31.
† CleanenergyrepresentsemissionssavingsfromcleanenergyprocuredbyAppleor itssuppliers.
‡ Businessoperationsincludebusinesstravel,employeecommutes,workingfrom home,fuelsandotherenergy-relatedactivities,andtheuseofothercloudservices.
‡‡DirectabatementeffortsincludebothF-GHGandN2Ofromoursemiconductorand displaysuppliers.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX
2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 12
Design and materials
We accomplished our goal to use 100 percent recycled cobalt in Apple-designed batteries, 100 percent recycled gold plating and tin solder in all Apple-designed printed circuit boards, and 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets.†
† Thisaccomplishmentexcludesinventoryforreplacementandrepair,as wellasexcessinventorypurchasedpriortoyear-endcurrentlybeing consumedandrepresentinglessthan0.1%oftotalmaterialusage.
We design our products to be less carbon intensive by prioritizing the use of recycled and renewable content and low-carbon materials while focusing on the energy efficiency of our software and hardware. We're working toward a future
where every Apple product will be created from and contribute to circular supply chains. The design and material choices we make across our products support reducing our carbon footprint.
‡ Wecomparedthetitaniumrequiredtomake thecaseofAppleWatchUltra3relativeto AppleWatchUltra2.
Design and materials address emissions from:
Productuse (Scope3)
Producttransport (Scope3)
Productmanufacturing (Scope3)
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 13
Our approach to design and materials
Innovationdrivesoureffortsaroundcircularity-fromthe materialswesourceandtheproductdesignchoiceswe maketotherecyclingandrecoveryinnovationswepursue. Weprioritizethematerialsandcomponentsthataccountfor significantportionsofourgreenhousegasemissions.This meansthatthechoiceswemakeproduct-by-productcan scaletowardreducingouroverallfootprint.Thesepriorities informourworktodesignformaterialefficiencyandincrease ouruseofrecycledandrenewablematerials.
Weaimtocreateproductsthatusecircularsupplychains toonedayendrelianceonminedresourceswhilemeeting ourrigorousstandardsforquality,durability,performance, andenvironmentalandsocialprotections.Andweʼremaking progressinexpandingouruseofrecycledcontentacross ourproducts.Weaccomplishedourgoaltotransition
to100percentrecycledcobalt,tin,gold,andrareearth elementsinkeycomponentsandapplicationswithhigher concentrations-including100percentrecycledcontent cobaltinApple-designedbatteries,100percentrecycled goldplatingandtinsolderinallApple-designedprinted circuitboards,and100percentrecycledrareearthelements inallmagnets.17Andwealsomaintainstrictstandardsfor responsiblysourcingmaterialsfromprimary,recycled,and renewablesources.Ouractionscaninspireotherstosupport buildingcircularsupplychains.
Workingtopositivelyinfluencethemarketswherewework andcommunitiesworldwide,advocatingforpolicythat enablescircularsupplychains,andinspiringotherstofollow suit-thesearetheopportunitiesthatdriveusthroughthe challengingworkofcreatingcircularsupplychains.Read aboutoureffortsinEngagementandAdvocacyonpage69.
Using recycled materials to lower our product carbon footprint
Weʼrereducingthecarbonfootprintofourproductsthrough thematerialsweselect.Ourstrategyistotransitionto materialsthataremanufacturedusinglow-carbonenergy andrecycledcontent.18Weʼreprioritizingthematerials andcomponentsthatmakeupalargepartofourproducts tomoveusclosertoourgoalofcarbonneutrality.Andto acceleratecollectiveefforts,wesignedonasafounding memberofFirstMoversCoalitionʼsnear-zeroemissions primaryaluminumcommitmentfor2030.
OuruseofaluminumexemplifiesAppleʼsapproach:Weʼre transitioningtorecycledcontent,andwherewehavenʼt yet,weʼremovingtolow-carbonsuppliersandsupporting technologicalinnovationstodecarbonize.Weʼvecontinued touse100percentrecycledaluminumintheenclosuresof manyAppleproducts,includingAppleWatchSeries11,iPad, MacBookAir,andMacStudio.
GOAL
Transitionto100percentrecycledcobalt, tin,gold,andrareearthelementsinselect componentsandapplications19
100%
RecycledcobaltinallApple-designed batteries
100%
Recycledgoldplatingandtinsolderinall Apple-designedprintedcircuitboards
100%
Recycledrareearthelementsinallmagnets
Ourfirstpriorityistotapintothepotentialofourownhigh-qualityscrapbyexploringinnovationstorecoverasmuch aspossible.Sincerecycledaluminummanufacturingemits lesscarbonthannewlyminedmaterials,welooktoother post-industrialandpost-consumersourcesforhigh-quality recycledaluminum,whichrequiresnewapproaches.For example,werepurposesomescrapmaterialgeneratedduring thefabricationofourenclosurestomakeour7000series aluminumusediniPhone17andotherproducts.Overall,our effortshavereducedouraluminum-relatedemissionsbymore than70percentsince2015.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX
2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 14
Hot off the press
Anovelideatransformeda prototypingapproach,3Dprinting, intoabreakthroughproduction processthatyieldedsignificant savingsinrawmaterials.This year,allAppleWatchUltra3 andtitaniumAppleWatchSeries 11caseswere3D-printedwith 100 percentrecycledaerospace-gradetitaniumpowder,achieving morethan400metrictonsin rawtitaniumsavingsin2025and 50 percentlessrawmaterialused thanthepreviousgeneration.
SCALE
A single component can utilize materials from hundreds of different suppliers, requiring exponentially more effort as we scale the use of high-quality recycled or renewable materials across components and products.
AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS
The supply of recycled and renewable materials can be constrained by the limited availability of recoverable material or production of renewable content. When supply exists in some locations around the world, new suppliers need to be incorporated into supply chains for the material to be accessed. Technological limitations in recovering materials from complex waste streams can pose challenges to efficiency and effectiveness.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 15
Prioritizing our efforts
We're making progress toward our goal of sourcing only recycled and renewable materials for our products: In 2025, 30 percent of the materials contained in products shipped came from recycled or renewable sources.20
We've focused our efforts on 15 priority materials based on a broad range of potential environmental, social, and supply chain impacts. Each is outlined in detail in our Material
Impact Profiles white paper.21 Our priority materials consist of aluminum, cobalt, copper, glass, gold, lithium, paper, plastics, rare earth elements, steel, tantalum, tin, titanium, tungsten, and zinc, and they account for more than 85 percent of the total product mass shipped to our customers in 2025.
Maintaining our standards for recycled and renewable materials is essential to our journey to create a circular supply chain. Our requirements are conformant with the definitions in ISO 14021, and responsible resource management. By requiring certification to these standards, we're able to
confirm that a material has been recycled or comes from a renewable resource - one that is managed for continual
production without depleting the Earth's natural resources. Total recycled content numbers also include supplier-reported recycled content validated by Apple. And, we hold all recycled and renewable materials to the same high standards for safety as we do for all materials, evaluating each one for the safety of the material's chemistry. This process allows us to scale our use of materials that are safer for use in our products.
Barriers to our progress remain, but through collaboration across the value chain, we can achieve impact felt beyond our business. This work serves more than just our product needs - it helps promote the availability of competitively priced, quality recycled and renewable materials
across geographies.
Material Impact Profiles white paper
TECHNICAL PROPERTIES
While many recycled or renewable materials have indistinguishable technical properties, some may differ from the conventional material. This needs to be
accounted for during product design and manufacturing, and we innovate to avoid compromising. The composition of other recycled materials can also be impacted by some level of contamination during the recycling process.
TRACEABILITY
Information about the source of materials - whether mined, recycled, or renewable - might not be readily available.
SUPPLY CHAINS
Recycled or renewable content may not be easily accessible on the market, requiring the development of new supply chains.
REGULATORY BARRIERS
Transboundary movement regulations - created to establish critically important protections for people and the environment - can have the unintended consequence of inhibiting material recovery and movement to recyclers or refiners for material recovery and use in new products. Apple supports the U.S. ratification of the Basel Convention to better support recycling and recovery.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 16
ALUMINUM
In2025,morethan 70 percentofthe aluminumweshipped inproductsto customerscamefrom recycledsources.
COBALT
Weaccomplishedour goaltouse100percent recycledcobaltinall Apple-designedbatteries, bringingourtotaluse ofrecycledcobaltto 95percentacross
allproductsshipped in2025.22
COPPER
In2025,morethan
20 percentofthecopper weshippedinproducts tocustomerscamefrom recycledsources.
GLASS
Weused40percent recycledglassinthe displayglassofApple WatchSeries11and AppleWatchSE3 recoveredfrompost-industrialmaterial, includingiPhonescrap.
GOLD
Weaccomplishedour goaltouse100percent recycledgoldplatinginall Apple-designedprinted circuitboards.23
LITHIUM
In2025,morethan
90 percentofthelithium weshippedinproducts tocustomerscamefrom recycledsources.
PAPER
Weaccomplishedour goaltoremoveplastics fromourpackaging bytheendof2025 andnowshipallnew productsin100percent fiber-basedpackaging.24
PLASTICS
Weused65percent recycledplasticinthe MagSafeChargingCase ofAirPodsPro3.
RARE EARTH ELEMENTS
Wemetourgoaltouse 100percentrecycledrare earthelements(REE) inallmagnets,bringing ourtotaluseofrecycled REEto95percentacross allproductsshipped in2025.25
TIN
Weaccomplishedour goaltouse100percent recycledtinsolderinall Apple-designedprinted circuitboards.26
STEEL
In2025,morethan
20 percentofthesteel weshippedinproducts tocustomerscamefrom recycledsources.
TITANIUM
In2025,weintroduced AppleWatch Series 11 andAppleWatch Ultra3,whichcontain 100 percentrecycled titaniumintheircases.
ZINC
MacStudiocontains 100 percentrecycled zincintheprongsof thepowercordand ACinletprongs.
TANTALUM
Wecontinueourefforts tosource100percent recycledtantalumand areactivelyinvestigating recoverysolutionsfrom end-of-lifeelectronicsto expandtheavailabilityof recycledtantalum.
TUNGSTEN
In2025,morethan 95 percentofthe tungstenweshipped inproductsto customerscamefrom recycledsources.
CHALLENGES
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 17
Maximizing the potential of post-industrial and post-consumer materials
Compared to primary materials, recycled materials generally contain lower embodied GHG emissions and cause fewer adverse environmental and societal impacts. As a result, integrating recycled materials into products has become one of the most important means of decarbonization at
Apple. While we are increasing our use of recycled materials, considerable work remains to expand and scale these efforts. And we believe that both post-consumer (PC) and post-industrial (PI) sources are critical to this work.
POST-CONSUMER SCRAP
Consumer electronics manufacturing processes, such as component machining and module assembly, integrate dozens of materials into small components for various functionalities. To achieve product reliability and performance, manufacturers often use techniques that combine dissimilar materials which generate mixed PI scrap. And since many manufacturers, including Apple, use their own aluminum alloy with specific composition ranges due to casting requirements and material properties, the available PC scrap from other manufacturers is not homogeneous enough for direct use without treatment. Apple has assessed that no more than
15 percent by weight of carefully sourced PC scrap can be utilized in manufacturing, whereas up to 100 percent of PI scrap can be used in aluminum alloy today.
To avoid downcycling, cleaning and sorting technologies are needed for unsorted, multimaterial Pl scrap. Without these technologies, manufacturers can't use PI scrap in original material applications and may be forced to source primary material with higher embodied GHG emissions.
We saw opportunity for the recovery of rare earth elements that may otherwise be lost and valuable aluminum alloys that are often downcycled. To address this, we created an
automated system that is able to remove magnets from audio modules intact. This process recovers approximately 13 metric tons of rare earth elements annually, avoiding the mining of 880 metric tons of rock. In our aluminum supply chain, we tackled the challenge of utilizing contaminated computer numerical control (CNC) machining scrap. By piloting a multi-stage purification system using electrostatic separation, we were able to transform mixed scrap into more than 99 percent pure aluminum feedstock. This process prevented downcycling into cast aluminum alloys with lower strength and ductility than required for our material specifications, enabling aluminum that would otherwise be forever removed from the supply chain to be used in Apple products.
As we develop innovations in recovering important materials from PI waste, we can apply those processes to PC waste to further advance sorting technologies, which can be shared across industries to achieve scalable impacts. As policymakers set and define the rules for recycled content targets, both PC and PI scrap should be incentivized equally.
POST-INDUSTRIAL SCRAP
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 18
Responsible sourcing of materials
Werequireoursupplierstoresponsiblysourcebothprimary andrecycledmaterials.OurResponsibleSourcingofPrimary, Recycled,andRenewableMaterialsStandardisbasedon leadinginternationalguidance,includingtheUnitedNations GuidingPrinciplesonBusinessandHumanRightsandthe OrganizationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment (OECD)DueDiligenceGuidanceforResponsibleSupply ChainsofMineralsfromConflict-AffectedandHigh-Risk Areas.Onehundredpercentoftin,tungsten,tantalum,gold, cobalt,andlithiumsmeltersandrefinersidentifiedinAppleʼs supplychainarerequiredtoparticipateinanindependent third-partyauditannually.Ifsmelters/refinersareunable orunwillingtomeetourstandards,wetakenecessary actions,throughoursuppliers,toterminatetheapplicable businessrelationships.
Werequireoursupplierstoreviewreportedincidentsand publicallegationsinvolvingtheirmaterialsʼsupplychains, andtomitigateidentifiedrisks.Inaddition,suppliersmust useorsourcekeymaterialsinoursupplychainonlyfrom smelters,refiners,andrecyclerswhohavecompleted,or demonstratedprogresstowardcompletionof,third-party audits.Wealsomapthesmeltersandrefinerssuppliersuse forothermaterialsinourproducts-suchasmica,copper, graphite,andnickel-andweevaluatesuppliersʼsupplychain duediligenceforcompliancewithourrequirements.Aswe buildsupplychainsforrecycledmaterials,wepartnerwith thesmeltersandrefinersthatareabletomeetandmaintain ourstandards.
PeopleandEnvironmentinOurSupplyChainAnnualUpdate
Industry collaboration
Wecontinuetodriveprogressinourbroaderindustrythrough multipleinitiatives.Forexample,weworkeddirectlywith theWorldBusinessCouncilforSustainableDevelopment (WBCSD)tocreatetheCriticalMaterialsCollective,across-industrypartnershipworkingtorealizetheopportunityof circularitytohelpmeetoverallcriticalmaterialdemand throughpilotsthatcanbereplicatedandscaled.Thisinitiative isfocusedondemonstratingaction,startingwithafocuson supplychainsolutionsandmaterialsthathaveimmediate policy,investment,andcollaborationopportunities:aluminum, rareearthelements,andcopper.Weʼrealsoonthesteering committeeoftheResponsibleMineralsInitiative(RMI)-one ofthemostcommonlyengagedassociationsforcompanies workingtosourcemineralsresponsiblyintheirsupplychains. WeʼreasupporteroftheFirstMoversCoalitionforAluminum, whosefocusistoaggregatedemandsignalsforlow-carbon technologiesandmaterials.
Integratedcircuitsareatthecoreoftechnologyproducts andhavebeencarbonintensivetocreate.Weʼveprioritized improvingthecarbonfootprintofintegratedcircuitsand continuedourworkwiththesustainablesemiconductor technologiesandsystemsresearchprogramofimec,a world-leadingresearchandinnovationhubinnanoelectronics anddigitaltechnologiesinBelgium.Wehavetwogoals inthiscollaboration:toimprovethecarbonfootprint modelsassociatedwithleadingnodesofintegratedcircuit production,andtousethesemodelstoidentifycarbon reductionopportunitiesfortheentireintegratedcircuits industry.Weaimtoapplysimilarcarbonfootprintmodel improvementstoothercomponentstosupportourApple 2030journey.
Usingrecycledandrenewablematerialshelpslowerour carbonfootprint,movingusclosertoourclimategoals.To fulfillthetransitiontothesematerials,weʼreworkingwith policymakerstosupportinternationalstandardsthatenable theuseofthesematerialsglobally.
Improving material and manufacturing efficiency
Makingourmanufacturingprocessesmoreefficientcreates lesswasteandhelpsusmakethemostofthematerials thatweuse.Weʼrealsoworkingtodesignourproductsand packagingsothattheyrequirelessmaterial,helpingreduce emissionsfromtransportingandprocessingmaterials.
In2025,weadaptedaprocesstypicallyusedfor prototyping-3Dprinting-tomanufacturethetitanium casesofAppleWatchUltra3andAppleWatchSeries11.
Thisinnovationmetourrigorousstandardsforfunctionality, beauty,anddurability,withthescalabilitytomeetour productionneeds.Thisprocess,whichuses100percent aerospace-graderecycledtitaniumpowder,isadditive; layerafterlayerisprintedtocreatethefinalshapeof thecomponent.Previousprocessesinvolvedmachining forgedcomponents,asubtractivemethodthatgenerates shavings.Thisnewapproachenablesustomanufacture AppleWatchUltra3andthetitaniumcasesofAppleWatch Series11usinghalftherawmaterialcomparedwiththeir previousgenerations.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 19
Achieving a new vision for packaging
Nearly10yearsago,wepledgedtoeliminateplasticwaste. Aspartofourpledge,wesetthegoaltoremoveplasticfrom ourpackagingby2025,whichhastheadditionalbenefitof improvingtherecyclabilityofourpackaging.Afteradecadeof innovativework,weʼvemetourcommitment.Thisyear,each newAppleproductshippedwillcomein100percentfiber-basedpackaging.27
Tomeetourcommitment,ourdesignersandengineers developedpackaginginnovationsthatutilizefiber-based alternativesforeachcomponent-fromreplacingfoam cushioningwithmoldedfiberstructuresandcorrugatespring cushionsforourMaccomputerstoremovingtheouter plasticwrapfromiPhoneboxes.Thealternativecomponents arerecyclableandsourcedfromrecycledmaterialsor responsiblymanagedforestsasdefinedinourResponsible Fiber Specification.
Ourteamsalsosupportedthetransitiontofiber-based packagingalternativesamongourvendors.Andsecond-andthird-partyvendorshaveremovedplasticfromtheir packaging,enablingthemtodeliverfiber-basedpackagingto theircustomersacrossretailcategories.
iPhone7,theABS EarPodscasewitha paperEarPodswrap, andplasticcable wrapwithapaper
cable wrap.
moldedfibertray.
Replaced polystyrenefoamin iMacProwithkraft moldedfiber.
time,replacingthe
plastictray.
MacPropackaging.
RedesignedtheiPhone 12boxtobesmaller andlighterbyremoving thepoweradapter, increasingshipping efficiencybyupto
70 percent.
corrugatedspring cushions.
Removedtheouter plasticwrapfrom iPhone13boxes, avoidinganestimated 600metrictonsof plasticannually.
newoverprintvarnish andeliminatedplastic labelsthroughdirect-
to-boxprinting.
with100percentfiber- based packaging.
basedpackaging.29
lockingclosures.
Overthepastdecade,governingbodiesaroundtheworld haveregulatedsingle-useplastics,includingthoseused inpackaging.Ourproactiveapproachtoseekingplastic alternativeshaspositionedusandmanyofoursuppliersto meetemergingregulatoryrequirements.
Theimpactofthisworkismeasurable.Inthepastfiveyears alone,weʼveavoidedtheuseofmorethan15,000metrictons ofplastic,theequivalentofapproximately500millionplastic waterbottles.28Themajorityofthematerialsweʼveusedin itsplacecontributetocircularsupplychains,aswell.Aswe developourpackaging,weʼllcontinuetoutilizebothrecycled andrenewablematerials,guidedbytheprioritytomakethe bestuseofresources.
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Replacedtwoplastic
ShippedfirstiPad
Utilizedamolded
Replacedplasticfoam
Replacedplasticscreen
Eliminatedtheuseof
Replacedplasticbox
Shippedthefirst
ShippediPhonefor
Developedand
(HIPS)trayswithone
withoutaplastic
fibertrayfor
withafiber-based
filmwithpaperscreen
polystyrenefoamfor
laminationiniPhone
products,includingthe
thefirsttimewith
deployedbio-based
moldedfibertrayfor
trayandwitha
MacBookforthefirst
honeycombdesignin
filmoniPhone12.
iMac,replacingitwith
14packagingwitha
fallAppleWatchlineup,
100 percentfiber-
adhesivesandfiber-
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY
DATA
GREEN BOND IMPACT REPORT
APPENDIX 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT 20
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MacBookNeohasthehighestrecycledcontent andlowestcarbonfootprintofourMacBook computers.Theformingprocessusedtocreate theenclosurereducesaluminumby50percent comparedtotraditionalmachiningprocesses.
Theanodizingprocess,whichcreatesa protectivelayerandallowsforitsdistinctive colors,achievesa70percentwaterreuse rate.ItsApplesiliconprocessorprovideshigh-performanceandenablespassivecooling,which minimizestheneedforopenings,protecting thedevicefromliquidingressandsupporting productdurability.MacBookNeoisalso designedforsimplerrepairs,prioritizingscrews overadhesives,andisassembledwithside-by-sidecomponentsforeasieraccess.
ProductEnvironmentalReport
Disclaimer
Apple Inc. published this content on April 16, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 16, 2026 at 19:15 UTC.