Apple Suppliers Struggling to Meet Environmental Goals

[MacRumors]

Apple's strict environmental goals are putting pressure on the company's global supply chains, DigiTimes reports.

In a paywalled report, DigiTimes claims that Apple's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 is putting pressure on its supply chain, with major suppliers such as TSMC scrambling to meet the company's demands. Sources speaking to DigiTimes said that TSMC was making slow progress toward carbon neutrality and is being forced to take more assertive action to reach its environmental goals.

TSMC supplies all of Apple's custom silicon chips for the Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The company is said to be concerned about the high cost of achieving net-zero carbon emissions and is finding it difficult to purchase enough green energy. Despite this, TSMC now sees its green credentials as key to its ability to stay competitive in the years ahead, with the tangential benefit of improving efficiency.

Just as Apple is compelling its suppliers to save energy and reduce carbon emissions, TSMC is putting the same pressure on its own supply chain. Several hundred factories in Taiwan singularly depend on TSMC for orders and the chip manufacturer has urged its suppliers to reduce their carbon footprint by using energy from renewable sources.

TSMC previously announced a 20 percent energy-savings goal for its supply chain by 2030, and now it has warned suppliers that they could lose orders if their processes are not considered to be green enough in the future. Some of the chip maker's suppliers that are themselves struggling to meet environmental goals have reportedly sought assistance from TSMC and external organizations.

While demand for TSMC's chips continues to expand, the push for green manufacturing and renewable energy procurement and the cost of carbon taxes and fees is significantly increasing production costs. As such, environmental goals are said to be "major risks" for TSMC's operations going forward.

Article Link: Apple Suppliers Struggling to Meet Environmental Goals

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

DigiTimes 🤮

 

[Mr. Dee]

If I were TSMC I would slap Apple and tell them ‘since you know it all, why don’t you tell us exactly what do and eat some of cost too?’ Apple’s business is what’s contributing, don’t build new iPhones and iPads and iMacs every year and TSMC would obviously become sustainable.

 

[icanhazmac]

If I were TSMC I would slap Apple

Agreed, if they just said "no" what would Apple do, go somewhere else? LOL! I'm all for putting in the effort to do better for the environment but sometimes the reality is the timeline to achieve the goal is simply too aggressive.

 

[nylonsteel]

re: pic
the spaceship looks alittle forlorn a bit lonely with workers working from home

 

[citysnaps]

Hat-tip to Apple for setting a high bar.

 

[GMShadow]

TSMC now sees its green credentials as key to its ability to stay competitive in the years ahead, with the tangential benefit of improving efficiency

Love how this really demonstrates the issue at hand. Actual benefits are merely tangential - the goal is to signal to the right people that they care.

 

[now i see it]

It may not be possible to consume the same amount of energy we are used to using by using green energy only.

It may also not be possible to stop the downhill slide humans have tilted the global climate.

All evidence suggests that the earth is long down the path of the 6th global mass extinction.

just sayin.

Have a good day!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗]

Hat-tip to Apple for setting a high bar.

Setting a high bar is great. I just hope Apple doesn't lose the relationships with the suppliers.

 

[EvilEvil]

Apple should work on a dongle-less future.

 

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

How about making those AirPod batteries replacable? There's a competitor that has already managed to do such thing with similar bluetooth earpods.

While they're at it, Apple could also make iPhones and Macbooks more repairable and upgradeable. After that they can start talking about using green energy etc.

 

[Adarna]

How about making those AirPod batteries replacable? There's a competitor that has already managed to do such thing with similar bluetooth earpods.

While they're at it, Apple could also make iPhones and Macbooks more repairable and upgradeable. After that they can start talking about using green energy etc.

How much heavier or bulkier are these rival earpods?

I'd love user replaceable batteries but will it mean physically larger and heavier laptops and smartphones?

 

[Shirasaki]

So here’s the deal. Apple can claim environmental benefit all they want, but if whatever they cut can’t make up for whatever supplier supplies, then it’s a net loss.
Good thing is, there is no point of return now, just that science community very wary about saying out loud the truth.

 

[Shirasaki]

How much heavier or bulkier are these rival earpods?

I'd love user replaceable batteries but will it mean physically larger and heavier laptops and smartphones?

If you still want to pursue thinness, go for weaker devices that are not repairable.

 

[citysnaps]

How about making those AirPod batteries replacable? There's a competitor that has already managed to do such thing with similar bluetooth earpods.

While they're at it, Apple could also make iPhones and Macbooks more repairable and upgradeable. After that they can start talking about using green energy etc.

How-aboutism at its finest.

The story is about Apple holding its suppliers accountable meeting certain environmental goals in their processes.

 

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

How much heavier or bulkier are these rival earpods?

I'd love user replaceable batteries but will it mean physically larger and heavier laptops and smartphones?

Google "PQ earbuds" and you'll find them. Haven't tried out myself and I'm pretty sure there are many issues and caveats with that design, but Apple is pretty good in solving such problems when they really decide to do so.

 

[jz0309]

good for Apple to have an aggressive goal. One has to review though TSMC's goal to truly understand where their goals, I sure don't trust Digitizes ... and, in general, Asia is behind when it comes to environmental goals, when most manufacturing is moved to Asia from both US and EU for cheap labor and low environmental control, well ... things need to change, there is only 1 earth and we are all breathing the same air ...

 

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

How-aboutism at its finest.

I'm just annoyed how Apple keynotes continuously boast about their environmental targets while they are turning a blind eye to most obvious solutions. Sure, I understand the business logic behind it, but that doesn't make it less hypocritical.

 

[raybo]

Maybe try a small Gen IV nuclear reactor? The panels look great now but how will they look when they have to be disposed of?

 

[citysnaps]

good for Apple to have an aggressive goal. One has to review though TSMC's goal to truly understand where their goals, I sure don't trust Digitizes ... and, in general, Asia is behind when it comes to environmental goals, when most manufacturing is moved to Asia from both US and EU for cheap labor and low environmental control, well ... things need to change, there is only 1 earth and we are all breathing the same air ...

Spot on assessment.

 

[carestudio]

If I were TSMC I would slap Apple and tell them ‘since you know it all, why don’t you tell us exactly what do and eat some of cost too?’ Apple’s business is what’s contributing, don’t build new iPhones and iPads and iMacs every year and TSMC would obviously become sustainable.

If TSMC is struggling, I believe all others are on the same boat or even worse.

 

[Jim Lahey]

Just get me an Xbox Series X already. I'll write an IOU for the carbon...

 

[Jim Lahey]

Maybe try a small Gen IV nuclear reactor? The panels look great now but how will they look when they have to be disposed of?

Also is not true that solar panels require vast quantities of coal to manufacture?

 

[binaryfuneral]

It may not be possible to consume the same amount of energy we are used to using by using green energy only.

It may also not be possible to stop the downhill slide humans have tilted the global climate.

All evidence suggests that the earth is long down the path of the 6th global mass extinction.

just sayin.

Have a good day!

Time to drink some Kool-Aid and see if you can catch the next comet then, huh?

 

[repoman016]

Maybe they should take some of the crap out of their fancy boxes that people dont use, like all the inserts and fancy cut outs. Maybe put a cord back in there that people would actually use instead of forcing them to buy more packaging for a cable that should have already been in the box