Apple has made remarkable strides in its environmental initiatives, recently announcing a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2015 figures. This achievement places the technology leader ahead of its own targets as it works towards becoming carbon neutral across all operations by 2030. These milestones were detailed in Apple’s latest Environmental Progress Report and Lisa Jackson, who leads Apple’s environmental efforts, expressed pride in these accomplishments, noting that the company is responding to the increasing challenges of sustainability with a sense of urgency, innovation, and teamwork.

A significant part of Apple’s decarbonisation strategy centres on transforming its global supply chain. By implementing renewable energy solutions and energy efficiency improvements across its network of suppliers, Apple has expanded renewable electricity capacity to 17.8 gigawatts worldwide. In 2024 alone, this approach prevented 21.8 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions—a 17% improvement over the previous year. Furthermore, Apple has secured commitments from key suppliers in the semiconductor and display sectors to dramatically cut fluorinated gas emissions, with these groups already achieving a reduction of 8.4 million metric tonnes last year.

The company has also made considerable progress in the area of resource circularity. Apple now uses fully recycled rare earth elements in nearly all magnets and recycled cobalt in the majority of Apple-designed batteries, reaching 99% of its 2025 targets. Its Zero Waste programme, developed in partnership with suppliers, diverted around 600,000 metric tonnes of waste from landfill sites in 2024, contributing to a cumulative total of 3.6 million metric tonnes since the initiative began. This focus on sustainable materials and waste reduction is also reflected in Apple’s latest products, with the new MacBook Air boasting over 55% recycled content and the introduction of carbon neutral models such as the Mac mini and Apple Watch.

Although Apple’s efforts in emissions reduction and recycling are leading the industry, progress on water conservation has been more gradual. To date, the company has secured partnerships covering only 40% of its 2030 target to replenish all freshwater withdrawn from high-stress areas. Nevertheless, since launching the Supplier Clean Water Program in 2013, Apple and its partners have saved more than 90 billion gallons of freshwater, with 14 billion gallons conserved in 2024 alone. The company remains committed to replenishing 100% of freshwater withdrawals in the most water-stressed locations by the end of the decade.