Apple Boosts Efforts in Renewable Energy and Water Sustainability

[MacRumors]

Apple is intensifying its global investment in clean energy and water sustainability, advancing towards its "Apple 2030" goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its entire value chain by the decade's end, the company has announced.

"Clean energy and water are foundational to healthy communities and essential building blocks for a responsible business," said Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. "We're racing toward our ambitious Apple 2030 climate goal while taking on the long-term work to transform electrical grids and restore watersheds to build a cleaner future for all."

Apple says it has successfully increased its clean electricity capacity to over 18 gigawatts — a threefold increase since 2020 — largely powered by solar energy projects in the U.S. and Europe. The initiatives support Apple's operational and manufacturing needs as well as cater to the electricity used by customers to power their devices.

Apple has also set a target to replenish 100% of the freshwater used in its corporate operations in high-stress areas. The company has established partnerships aimed at restoring aquifers and rivers and has provided nearly 7 billion gallons of water benefits slated for the next 20 years. Apple says that, with the help of suppliers, the company conserved over 76 billion gallons of water through the Supplier Clean Water Program.

Article Link: Apple Boosts Efforts in Renewable Energy and Water Sustainability

 

[emmab2006]

all well and good apple that you're doing all of this for the environment, but you allowing thousands upon thousands of MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones, to be instantly become e-waste with your stupid activation lock, until you remove this and allow these old devices to be used this is water off a ducks back.

 

[FloatingBones]

The initiatives support Apple's operational and manufacturing needs as well as cater to the electricity used by customers to power their devices.

How do these massive solar panel installations support Apple's operational and manufacturing needs on an overcast day or after sunset? How do they get their power then? Has Apple installed massive electrical energy storage facilities to provide energy when the sun isn't shining?

Does Apple account for the energy and carbon footprint of manufacturing their solar facilities in their "clean electricity" statements?

 

[ELman]

Hearing sustainability is the goal of so many tech companies is getting old. If they really want to make a difference move manufacturing out of countries that have zero interest in the environment.

 

[johnediii]

How do these massive solar panel installations support Apple's operational and manufacturing needs on an overcast day or after sunset? How do they get their power then? Has Apple installed massive electrical energy storage facilities to provide energy when the sun isn't shining?

Does Apple account for the energy and carbon footprint of manufacturing their solar facilities in their "clean electricity" statements?

Not only that but the amount of land that is required for these. Why are we destroying so much natural wilderness for the pipe dream of sustainable Solar? Apple has the money. Build Gen 4 nuclear and then it clean and has 1/1000 the footprint.

 

[Armada2]

all well and good apple that you're doing all of this for the environment, but you allowing thousands upon thousands of MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones, to be instantly become e-waste with your stupid activation lock, until you remove this and allow these old devices to be used this is water off a ducks back.

As they say it's all smoke and mirrors

 

[lenger]

Not only that but the amount of land that is required for these. Why are we destroying so much natural wilderness for the pipe dream of sustainable Solar? Apple has the money. Build Gen 4 nuclear and then it clean and has 1/1000 the footprint.

Probably the only thing worse than producing e-waste is producing nuclear waste.

 

[johnediii]

Probably the only thing worse than producing e-waste is producing nuclear waste.

First off, no nuclear waste is not a problem. Second, Gen 4 doesn't usually produce radioactive waste that needs to be stored for centuries. There is a lot of information on the internet about this. Also, Gen 4 is not a danger for accidents similar to Chernobyl or Fukushima. The bar to entry on this is really bureaucratic and financial. Older reactors are like inkjet printers. The companies don't make a lot of money on building them, they make money providing the fuel into perpetuity. Gen 4 largely can eliminate this because it uses fuel that is much easier to come by and far less dangerous naturally than Uranium.

 

[vegetassj4]

all well and good apple that you're doing all of this for the environment, but you allowing thousands upon thousands of MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones, to be instantly become e-waste with your stupid activation lock, until you remove this and allow these old devices to be used this is water off a ducks back.

Mother Nature is not impressed

 

[DominikHoffmann]

all well and good apple that you're doing all of this for the environment, but you allowing thousands upon thousands of MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones, to be instantly become e-waste with your stupid activation lock, until you remove this and allow these old devices to be used this is water off a ducks back.

It’s good P.R.!

 

[DominikHoffmann]

Also, what is the environmental impact of producing all those solar panels? What’s the environmental impact when they have to be discarded, like after a severe hail storm?

 

[Anaxarxes]

all well and good apple that you're doing all of this for the environment, but you allowing thousands upon thousands of MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones, to be instantly become e-waste with your stupid activation lock, until you remove this and allow these old devices to be used this is water off a ducks back.

ummm what?

 

[hovscorpion12]

Activation Lock is a YOU problem. Not an Apple problem. It's designed to protect the owner if their product is stolen.

Back to topic: Apple's push to sustainability is commendable. I'll admit they are actually doing changes. The statement to refuse to use leather is cases, to reusable parts to iPhone and iPads.

As far as Macs, I'll give Apple the benefits of the doubt. The vast majority of Mac owners buy what they need, and it lasts for ~7-10 years before being "recycled".

 

[flottenheimer]

I applaud every move towards a more sustainable Apple. And they do a lot of good stuff.

I do think Apple should focus even more on their products though.

A few ideas:

— Replaceable AirPod batteries.
— Replaceable laptop batteries.
— Ditch the iMac (the CPU/'computer' will be outdated way before the screen, but all will be tossed). The alternative: MacMini/MacStudio + Monitor is much less wasteful.
— Upgradable storage for all computers (an empty M.2 slot will suffice).

... as we all know — a long(er) lifespan is a good thing.

 

[Jim Lahey]

Is it not true that the manufacture of solar panels requires gargantuan quantities of coal?

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Also, what is the environmental impact of producing all those solar panels? What’s the environmental impact when they have to be discarded, like after a severe hail storm?

View attachment 2369140

Solar panels are easy to recycle and replace.

I find MR posters to be an interesting group politically... I'd imagine a lot of them would say that they strive for self-sufficiency, but then shout down any technology related to self-sufficiency. You realize that the grid goes down and requires repairs in storms, right? Solar + storage would enable you to cut yourself off from the grid for forever? If you'd like, you can get the robotic solar setups - they don't just track the sun, they also assume a defensive posture in inclement weather so that they aren't damaged by wind/snow/hail. They cost about the same per kW - it's largely a question of aesthetic (not everyone wants giant solar robots - fields of panels draw less attention to themselves.)

 

[icanhazmac]

Solar panels are easy to recycle and replace.

California went big on rooftop solar. Now that's a problem for landfills

California, a national leader in the solar market, has no plan for safely recycling more than 1 million photovoltaic panels that will soon need to be discarded.

www.latimes.com

Solar Panels Are Starting to Die, Leaving Behind Toxic Trash

Photovoltaic panels are a boon for clean energy but are tricky to recycle. As the oldest ones expire, get ready for a solar e-waste glut.

www.wired.com

Solar panels are a pain to recycle. These companies are trying to fix that.

A new plant in France aims to extract silver from old solar panels to make recycling them worth the trouble.

www.technologyreview.com

Doesn't seem so easy.

 

[steve09090]

Is it not true that the manufacture of solar panels requires gargantuan quantities of coal?

Nope. https://www.skylinesolar.com.au/wha...n of,emissions and other environmental issues.

 

[SoldOnApple]

If you have the money to do it then you really ought to do it. Apple users pay more for this kind of thing. And one day world governments will force everyone to do it, so may as well do it now.

 

[Supercyborgninja]

Maybe focus on being more like Fairphone and not create phones that are made off the blood of innocent Congolese..?

 

[timber]

Solar production also has that nice side effect of currently being really cheap and cost effective.

 

[Fuzzball84]

What is the manufacturing cost of these panels (in terms of environment and pollution), how long do they last, and what happens at end of life.

What about e waste and extended product repairs?

What is the safety for recycled plastics in Apple devices?

Where do all the iPhone cases go? Where do all the frayed cables go?

 

[Sippincider]

First off, no nuclear waste is not a problem.

Then may we store the casks in your backyard?

For Apple, with the cash and resources they have available (and apparently being out of product ideas otherwise), if they really want to change the word there are opportunities they could pursue.

 

[citysnaps]

What is the manufacturing cost of these panels (in terms of environment and pollution), how long do they last, and what happens at end of life.

What about e waste and extended product repairs?

What is the safety for recycled plastics in Apple devices?

Where do all the iPhone cases go? Where do all the frayed cables go?

Do these questions keep you awake at night? If you're really concerned, write a thoughtful letter to Apple posing those questions. You'll likely get a response.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Do these questions keep you awake at night? If you're really concerned, write a thoughtful letter to Apple posing those questions. You'll likely get a response.

No, they don't keep me up at night. But thinking about apple device release dates does.