Apple has made significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint, with its latest environmental progress report revealing a 60% drop in greenhouse gas emissions over the past decade. The company's efforts to procure renewable energy, design more sustainable products, and push its suppliers to follow suit have contributed to this impressive achievement.

The report highlights that Apple's planet-heating pollution decreased by 800,000 metric tons last year compared to 2023, a 5% drop. This progress is particularly noteworthy given the increasing emissions of other tech companies amidst the AI arms race. Apple's commitment to sustainability is evident in its goal to slash carbon emissions by 75% compared to 2015 by 2030, and eliminate 90% of that pollution by 2050, in line with the Paris agreement goal of stopping climate change.

One key aspect of Apple's climate strategy is its focus on renewable energy. The company's suppliers avoided close to 24 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions last year through renewable energy purchases and gains in energy efficiency. Additionally, Apple has made significant progress in reducing its use of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-GHGs), which are potent pollutants used in semiconductor and flat-panel display production. All of its direct display suppliers have committed to abating at least 90% of F-GHGs from facilities used for Apple products, while 26 of its direct semiconductor suppliers have made similar commitments.

Apple has also made significant strides in using recycled materials in its products. Last year, the company used nearly a quarter of recycled materials in its products, with over 80% of rare earth elements, 99% of tungsten, 71% of aluminum, 53% of lithium, 40% of gold, and 76% of cobalt coming from recycled sources. To encourage customers to recycle their old devices, Apple is offering a 10% discount on accessories to customers who bring an eligible item to one of its stores for recycling until May 16.

Despite this progress, Apple still produced 15.3 million metric tons of gross carbon dioxide emissions in 2024, equivalent to the pollution from 40 gas-fired power plants over a year. However, the company's commitment to transparency and continuous improvement is evident in its reporting and goal-setting. As the tech industry continues to grapple with its environmental impact, Apple's progress serves as a model for other companies to follow.

The significance of Apple's achievement extends beyond the tech industry, as it demonstrates the potential for large corporations to make meaningful contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As governments and businesses around the world work to address the climate crisis, Apple's commitment to sustainability serves as a beacon of hope for a more environmentally conscious future.