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I still remember the thrill of opening the iPod multi-colored cube. It was like opening up a package, and then another one under that, and then another ....

Environmentally correct or not, I miss those days. (Besides, the paper content "waste" can't compare to the mined minerals Apple currently uses in iDevices that cannot be repaired.)
Take a look at the amount of recycled Aluminium and recovered rare earths apple is using and you’ll might have to back off your statement.
 
As someone else rightly pointed out, why can't it be both a cost-saving measure AND an environmentally-friendly measure? The point is they're doing something good. And even if they're not as "environmentally conscience" in other areas, every step in the right direction is good. No matter what they do or say, there will always be a peanut gallery of cynics.
It can. The point is they talk the big talk but don’t walk.
Don’t try and sell it as a something done for the environment, they could have done this years ago as many others have. Or when they removed the power brick.

but don’t tell me it’s for the environment when this was the smallest they could do AND actively harms the environment and customers for profits only.

it’s the equivalent of a vegan restaurant talking how much they care for the animals and environment by not buying candy made with animal products and plastic wrapping , but at the same time buys everything made of pure leader and lowest grade farm milk, eggs and chicken stock and actively defend its usage. And everything is served in styrofoam and one time use utensils…

sure the plastic wrapping is good, but kind of meaningless and not commendable in comparison.
 
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Not exactly a show stopper, but it's great news.
I always tried to leave the plastic on the box to protect it. Also seems like the sticker would be easier to tamper with and make it look like it hasn't been opened when it actually has been. Not too thrilled about this change but it's not something worth caring about either. Sadly most people are wasteful and do just throw out the plastic to end up in the landfill.
It's not recyclable regardless, so what's the "wasteful" judgment for?
 
Give us a UV resistant lightning cable. Please don't use photodegradable plastic. I couldn't use Apple genuine lightning cable in the vehicle as it becomes crumble soon under the sunlight.
I always wondered why they wear down so fast despite trying my best to not bend them so much. Makes sense.

I've transitioned to only buying braided cables when possible and I wish Apple could at least include some kind of braided cable with iPhones and iPads.

The braided cables that come with the M1 iMacs seem worlds better than any of their standard ones.
 
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What about ethical cobalt sourcing for batteries? This isn't just an Apple issue, but most phone battery cobalt is sourced from... less ethical areas like the Congo where they use child labour. I think it would be a pretty big win and good PR if they were able to clarify their cobalt usage is coming from industrial operations that don't rely on 'artisanal' mining.
All the environmental initiatives Apple take for its products are great. But I really only see them going after the ones that also decrease manufacturing expenses(thereby increasing profit margin).

Apple isn't unique in this behaviour and that's understandable as these companies operate entirely for profit regardless of how they spin their business decisions for the public. But finding ways to waste less resources and reuse more mostly leads to better profits long term so it's not as big of an issue as it might seem.

The "issue" for Apple with sourcing cobalt from ethical resources is that it would mostly be an added expense for them and that's why I don't see it happening unless consumers or governments demand it. The average consumer isn't held back from buying consumer electronics because the cobalt is mined under inhumane conditions and that's why Apple doesn't care.

If the media and consumers talked about these things for years and stopped buying unethical cobalt then Apple would accommodate.
 
How about Apple ship these with those nice braided lightening to USB-C cables that are included with the M1 iMac.

The elephant in the room is all the pollution being caused due to deliveries and sending out a device that cannot be repaired in-store.

Apple one step forward and 3 steps back but hey as long as it looks good to the industry and shareholders (I am one) all is well. Why not use the same paper wrapper used on the power adapter that comes with iPad, Mac products. I don’t discard the plastic it’s stays on the box until it’s being sold.
"Deliveries" was already there. So it's not a step back. "Non-reparability" was already there. Shipping out a nice-braided cable to people who may already have a cable would be a step back.

So it's one step forward and no steps back. With a lot more steps forward possible but not taken.
 
All the environmental initiatives Apple take for its products are great. But I really only see them going after the ones that also decrease manufacturing expenses(thereby increasing profit margin).
There are laws in the works to make manufacturers responsible for the recycling of their devices. Some have dismissed these, saying the manufacturers would pass the costs on to the consumers--which they certainly will.

But when the recycling is their responsibility, it becomes in their interest to decrease the cost of recycling. That could lead to more efficient recycling processes, and also manufacturing processes that make the product more recyclable. Also, since the end product of recycling is recycled materials, those can be used in the new devices they make.

Companies like Apple will of course crow about their efforts to reduce waste. I don't mind, if it means that they are reducing waste.
 
Don’t try and sell it as a something done for the environment, they could have done this years ago as many others have. Or when they removed the power brick.

So if you don't do a good/right/wise thing at the first opportunity, then you're automatically a hypocrite if you eventually do it? Very odd logic and I sure hope you don't live by that! Also, if this were only to save money, then they could have ALSO done this years ago and raked in the extra profits, right? Seems that line of reasoning is self-defeating for your argument that Apple is being selfish here.
 
All the environmental initiatives Apple take for its products are great. But I really only see them going after the ones that also decrease manufacturing expenses(thereby increasing profit margin).
Yes thuy are great but they as everyone else takes the minimum actions needed. Only problem is apples fake green PR

There are laws in the works to make manufacturers responsible for the recycling of their devices. Some have dismissed these, saying the manufacturers would pass the costs on to the consumers--which they certainly will.

But when the recycling is their responsibility, it becomes in their interest to decrease the cost of recycling. That could lead to more efficient recycling processes, and also manufacturing processes that make the product more recyclable. Also, since the end product of recycling is recycled materials, those can be used in the new devices they make.

Companies like Apple will of course crow about their efforts to reduce waste. I don't mind, if it means that they are reducing waste.
This will be great. If the customer will pay that price it will just lower the sails volume so a win win. Especially forcing the right to repair
 
* Saving money.

Apple, despite their virtue signalling, couldn't care less about the environment or wellbeing. If they did, they wouldn't be enforcing a mandatory 3 days at the office each week creating additional (unnecessary) travel and a worse quality of life for their employees.

Apple care about MONEY. And Tim Cook is happy to save 1 cent/penny wherever he can and make it seem like they are doing the world a favour.
 
So if you don't do a good/right/wise thing at the first opportunity, then you're automatically a hypocrite if you eventually do it? Very odd logic and I sure hope you don't live by that! Also, if this were only to save money, then they could have ALSO done this years ago and raked in the extra profits, right? Seems that line of reasoning is self-defeating for your argument that Apple is being selfish here.
If you do the minimum at the last minute makes you a hypocritical, if you do environmentally friendly things for one product but not other makes your choice questionable. Remove iPhone 12 charges arguing customers already have charging bricks laying around and can make packaging’s smaller. Don’t remove iPad chargers the same year or the following year to make the packages smaller.

If you actively make your product environmentally damaging and actively stop your customer from being environmentally friendly then yes you are a hypocrite and monetary reasons are the driving factor not being environmentally friendly

for all we know apples contract with that supplier just ended, and could easily be the same reason the iPhone lost its power-brick and didn’t want to include a similar one like the iPad.
 
This is just gimmick like testing unvaccinated employees for COVID. Testing unvaccinated employees only gives false sense of security to customers. Vaccinated employees can be infected as well as transmit COVID. If I am vulnerable and I go to a store thinking I am safe, I am wrong. Vaccinated employees can pass the virus to me while I am thinking I am safe. The better way to do this is to tell customers that all employees can pass the virus and ask customers that if they think they are vulnerable, they should take precautions to protect themselves. That is how you protect customers and not give them a false sense of security. Customers knowing their own risks will take steps accordingly. If a customer is not vulnerable, he will simply go in and out of the store without worry. If a customer is vulnerable, he should take precautions. If he think he is strong enough, he might go to the store, keep distance from employees and do what he needs to do. If not, he might ask someone who is not vulnerable to go to the store for him. This is how you really keep customers safe, not give them a false sense of security.

What?
 
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If you do the minimum at the last minute makes you a hypocritical,

Not sure why you think these things are "the minimum" nor do I understand why you call this "the last minute". Is there some "environment-friendly" timer/deadline out there for companies that I'm unaware of?

if you do environmentally friendly things for one product but not other makes your choice questionable.

Not at all. I'm sure there is TONS of things going in the background to make these things happen - it's not a matter of some exec at Apple flipping a switch and all of a sudden their packaging magically changes. They don't make the packaging in-house - they have to work with other suppliers' production schedules, etc. Nothing suspicious at all with making these changes in stages. Again, if your "this is only about cost-savings" guess were correct, you'd think they'd go the nuclear route and change all the packaging at once to save as much money as possible right away, right? So your guess (and that's all it is) is not very reasonable, imo.

Remove iPhone 12 charges arguing customers already have charging bricks laying around and can make packaging’s smaller. Don’t remove iPad chargers the same year or the following year to make the packages smaller.

So if removing the iPad chargers and making the packages smaller would save them money, and that's their only objective here, then what's your explanation for why they haven't made the change yet with the iPad?

If you actively make your product environmentally damaging and actively stop your customer from being environmentally friendly . . .

Not sure what you're referring to here.

for all we know apples contract with that supplier just ended, and could easily be the same reason the iPhone lost its power-brick and didn’t want to include a similar one like the iPad.

"for all we know" - meaning we DON'T know, yet you choose to assume the worst (guilty until proven innocent). Why? It seems to me you approached this news article with an assumption that Apple is two-faced, and therefore how can you interpret this article to fit that assumption, rather than just take the article at face value.
 
Switching iPhones to USB-C port itself would have made world of a difference but they didn’t. Hence we shouldn’t take Apple’s PR fluff seriously.
 
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The phones are being made whether you buy one or not.

Nah my dude. Supply and demand - basic economics. It's been calculated how many to produce based on people's inclination to acquire said products. iCognitivedissonance is free with no uncharge.

I'm not saying you should feel bad buying an iPhone, lord I'm not.

Just saying enjoy your iPhone and don't virtue signal about how you're saving the world and making the world a better place, while contributing to the ever growing 'sustainable' landfill.

You're just indulging.

We don't eat cake to harvest nutrition. We do it because its pleasurable.
 
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