Apple Announces New Clean Energy Initiatives Across Europe and China

[MacRumors]

As part of Apple's goal to become carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 2030, the company today announced it is expanding its clean energy projects across Europe and China.

By 2030, Apple said it plans to match 100% of the electricity that all customers use to power and charge their Apple devices with clean electricity, by helping to bring new wind and solar power developments online around the world.

In Europe, this includes new solar and wind farms in development in Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Spain, according to Apple. And in China, Apple said over 90% of its manufacturing in the country is now powered by renewable energy.

Apple said its suppliers have jointly launched a new $150 million investment fund to support renewable energy infrastructure development in China.

Apple also announced it has donated an undisclosed sum to Tsinghua University in Beijing, to advance environmental education and research in China.

Article Link: Apple Announces New Clean Energy Initiatives Across Europe and China

 

[Apple-achian]

Just incorporate the lifetime electricity consumption average of a device into its cost and use it to fund clean energy initiatives. And make disposing of Apple devices a tax.

 

[Selena Agna]

Finally, something I can unconditionally laud Apple for.

 

[Matthew.H]

I generally try to charge my devices during the day when the suns out as we have solar panels and a solar battery but Apple doing more to reduce environmental impact is nothing but a good thing.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Great!

Now, also, please stop designing products that can't have their lives extended more.

I'm talking easier battery swaps and non soldered down components as a start.

Make this a priority in how products are designed.

 

[re-cycle]

"By 2030, Apple said it plans to match 100% of the electricity that all customers use to power and charge their Apple devices with clean electricity..."

This is really quite remarkable. Does any other consumer electronics company in the world include lifetime use of electricity? You've got to love Apple's commitment to doing the right thing.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Is this how they're wanting to make up for the whole carbon credit thing?

 

[apparatchik]

Is this how they're wanting to make up for the whole carbon credit thing?

In part, yes, probably, thou they were already doing this stuff before, they have similar projects in the Americas as well

 

[zarmanto]

Is this how they're wanting to make up for the whole carbon credit thing?

Indeed. The timing of this isn't at all likely to be a coincidence.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

This is one of the 2 massive announcements that were rumored for this week. The other one is that they will improve diversity. Coming tomorrow.

 

[dantay]

Smoke and mirrors, if you want to be environmentally friendly don’t consume.

Apple’s green washing really is world class though……bravo.

 

[cocky jeremy]

*yawn*

Give us product updates, Apple. Not this useless tree hugger BS.

 

[cocky jeremy]

This is one of the 2 massive announcements that were rumored for this week. The other one is that they will improve diversity. Coming tomorrow.

The BS they put out and expect people to care about is pure insanity. I guarantee you if ask people what they think about what Apple does, as far as this, 99% will have no idea WTF you're talking about.

 

[code-m]

Smoke and mirrors, if you want to be environmentally friendly don’t consume.

Apple’s green washing really is world class though……bravo.

Don’t Apple Executives fly around in private jets for company related purposes with the exception of some instance when commercial airlines are used for its employees?

Everything has a lifecycle including the universe, not sure how else Apple can encourage old devices trade-ins but I know people who still hold-onto obsolete devices because it’s not worth the trade-in inconvenience.

 

[code-m]

The BS they put out and expect people to care about is pure insanity. I guarantee you if ask people what they think about what Apple does, as far as this, 99% will have no idea WTF you're talking about.

Truth be told. Apple could scrap all of this tomorrow and the only people who will read/care is green peace and a minority of customers that it would make no difference. If the cost of the devices would decrease by scrapping these initiatives then 99.9% of the customers will celebrate the price drop.

 

[cartman13]

I would imagine that this has less to do with wanting to be green and more to do with European compliance. Typically, large companies have renewable energy standards that they have to meet. So, entering into a PPA (power purchase agreement) is a good way to do this--even more so if the PPA has a fixed cost of power (as it eliminates price risk). I don't quite know how the European power markets work, but there's also the possibility that Apple could receive renewable energy certificates (RECs) and then sell the "excess" certificates (above the amount that they will "retire" to match what they claim their customers use to charge their devices) to other companies who need to "use" more green energy, or Apple could arbitrage their solar RECs for non-solar RECs.

 

[ChrisMac47]

Investing in green energy is smart business, as pretty well most people in the world ... except it seems some in the US ... know. I suspect Apple will make a profit from this, as energy generated from the sun and wind in most parts of Europe in particular is cheaper than using fossil fuels. So, a smart business move, regardless of your prejudices.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Smoke and mirrors, if you want to be environmentally friendly don’t consume.

Apple’s green washing really is world class though……bravo.

Agreed. The most green option is to stick to what you have, and stop buying and upgrading constantly.

 

[uacd]

Greenwashing again. They would have contributed more if they released iPhone once in two or three years, what is the point of it if older model is barely different from a newer one.

Make people use their devices longer + user-replaceable batteries. Currently all smartphones are disposable tech with glued lithium-ion batteries. If they want these devices to be as utilitarian as possible then they need to make them work like ones. Best energy efficiency is when less energy is wasted to produce less products.

By 2035 our planet will be flooded with smartphone and tech dumpsters just because someone said those are “obsolete”. And well yeah, you cannot extend life of iOS device when it no longer supports new iOS since new browser version comes only with new iOS

 

[turbineseaplane]

@uacd

Thank you for the refreshing clarity here.
It's so disappointing to see how easily folks are duped by green washing efforts.

Apple actually giving an eff about the environment would start with designing products with longevity and repair-ability (and thus life extension) as the top priority. Additionally, there would be efforts to keep longer compatibility of software with versions appropriate for the hardware in question as it ages.

Forcing everyone to "the latest iOS" is literally the recipe for creating e-waste.

 

[routine_analyst]

As part of Apple's goal to become carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 2030, the company today announced it is expanding its clean energy projects across Europe and China.

By 2030, Apple said it plans to match 100% of the electricity that all customers use to power and charge their Apple devices with clean electricity, by helping to bring new wind and solar power developments online around the world.

In Europe, this includes new solar and wind farms in development in Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Spain, according to Apple. And in China, Apple said over 90% of its manufacturing in the country is now powered by renewable energy.

Apple said its suppliers have jointly launched a new $150 million investment fund to support renewable energy infrastructure development in China.

Apple also announced it has donated an undisclosed sum to Tsinghua University in Beijing, to advance environmental education and research in China.

Article Link: Apple Announces New Clean Energy Initiatives Across Europe and China

No more cables! No more charging plug! No more packaging! No more "finger tips" guides! No more unboxing experience! No more bag from the store! No more receipt in hand! No more people waiting in lines!

 

[justanotherdave]

Agreed. The most green option is to stick to what you have, and stop buying and upgrading constantly.

I guess I should have kept my power hungry Intel i9 MBP instead of switching to a much more efficient Apple Silicon version?

Or drive a 25 year old car that spews massive exhaust emissions while burning far more gas to get around vs a new fuel efficient (or in our case EV)?

 

[justanotherdave]

@uacd

Thank you for the refreshing clarity here.
It's so disappointing to see how easily folks are duped by green washing efforts.

Apple actually giving an eff about the environment would start with designing products with longevity and repair-ability (and thus life extension) as the top priority. Additionally, there would be efforts to keep longer compatibility of software with versions appropriate for the hardware in question as it ages.

Forcing everyone to "the latest iOS" is literally the recipe for creating e-waste.

Nope.

iPhones are the longest lasting smartphones around with the longest software support. Macs have the lowest TCO (IBM proved this with deployment of several hundred thousand Macs at work). This is why so many people keep using older devices, instead of trading them in. They keep working.

You’re also completely ignoring the carbon/energy cost of making devices with less reliable socketed components vs soldered which means lower reliability and a greater chance of failure (replacement) earlier in life.

 

[hagar]

Smoke and mirrors, if you want to be environmentally friendly don’t consume.

Apple’s green washing really is world class though……bravo.

But is it really greenwashing? Do you have any evidence for your claim?

And your tired statement that economy and ecology can’t be reconciled has been debunked many many times. It’s perfectly possible to do business, protect the environment, support local communities an make a profit. All at the same time.

 

[turbineseaplane]

iPhones are the longest lasting smartphones around with the longest software support.

Which means nothing here.

They can do better, last longer, be supported even more.

You’re also completely ignoring the carbon/energy cost of making devices with less reliable socketed components vs soldered which means lower reliability and a greater chance of failure (replacement) earlier in life.

This is ABSOLUTE complete and total hogwash