Environmental protection is a priority for the conservation of precious natural resources and the continued health of our planet. Apple recognizes its responsibility as a global citizen and is continually striving to reduce the environmental impact of the work we do and the products we create.

Apple and the Global Environment

Apple takes pride in its history of innovation and thoughtful design. But technological leadership goes beyond what’s in the box. How we impact the environment is also important to us, and environmental considerations are an integral part of Apple’s business practices. From the earliest stages of product design through manufacturing, use, and recycling, we take care to keep our activities and our products environmentally sound.

Four areas of particular attention are product and packaging design, responsible manufacturing, energy efficiency, and recycling. Each aspect of the design cycle provides significant challenges, yet our efforts in these areas have resulted in some impressive results.

Product design

It all begins here. Reducing the environmental impact of our products starts with the product design phase. Design dictates the quantity of raw materials, type and recylability of materials, energy consumption required for manufacturing and use, and the ease of recycling. For example, our decision to eliminate Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) displays makes our product line much more environmentally friendly. Our flat-panel displays eliminate more than two pounds of lead, consume up to 80% less energy in sleep mode, and weigh half as much as their CRT counterparts.

Apple continually refines its product design to maximize efficiency while minimizing waste, following the requirements of programs such as ENERGY STAR® as well as our own high standards.

Responsible Manufacturing

Apple plans to completely eliminate the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in its products, and arsenic in the glass of flat-panel displays by the end of 2008. Apple helps to safeguard the environment — as well as consumers’ safety — by restricting the use of environmentally harmful compounds in our materials and manufacturing processes. For example, our restricted substances program limits the use of heavy metals and ozone depleting substances in our products and manufacturing processes.

Energy efficiency

A device’s greatest environmental impact is often its energy consumption over time. Apple has made great strides in recent years to optimize the energy efficiency of our hardware and created tools, such as the Energy Saver feature in Mac OS X, that allow consumers to manage the power consumption of their computers. Since 2001, all Apple desktop computers, portable computers, and displays have earned the ENERGY STAR® rating.

Recycling

Apple’s holistic approach to recycling — encompassing a product’s entire lifecycle — includes extensive take-back programs that enable consumers and businesses to dispose of used Apple equipment in an environmentally sound manner. Since our first take-back initiative began in Germany in 1994, we have launched programs in the United States, Canada, Japan, and throughout Europe, diverting over 34 million pounds of electronic equipment from landfills worldwide.

A history of sound practice

Year after year, Apple has set and met important goals to phase out environmentally relevant substances, create recycling programs worldwide and improve energy efficiency. Here are some of the most important milestones in our quest for environmental responsibility:

1990

Apple’s environmental policy released and implemented.

1991

Phase-out of lead in batteries in advance of the 1996 European battery directive.

1992

Phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in Apple manufacturing, as stipulated in the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer.

1992

Founding member of the US EPA ENERGY STAR® program, developed to identify and promote energy efficient computers and monitors.

1994

Phase-out of NiCad batteries.

1994

First voluntary Apple product take-back program initiated in Germany (gradual expansion to other regions).

1995

PVC in packaging materials phased out.

1996

First Apple manufacturing site (Sacramento, CA) ISO 14001 certified.

1997

First Apple products tested for conformity to TCO (Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees) standards.

1999

Introduction of the Apple Product Environmental Specification (APES) files.

1999

Lead and cadmium in cables restricted.

2000

All Apple manufacturing sites ISO 14001 certified worldwide, signifying that Apple has a structured environmental management system (EMS) in place to manage the environmental impact of our operations.

2001

All Apple computers and displays meet applicable ENERGY STAR® requirements. They continue to do so.

2001

Started voluntary phase-out of tetrabisphenol A (TBBA) in all plastic enclosure
parts >25 grams.

2002

Product take-back solutions implemented in the US and Japan.

2002

Roll-out of Apple’s global Regulated Substances Specification.

2002

Signatory of European Union Code of Conduct on Power Supplies, created to encourage manufacturers to design power supplies that minimize energy consumption in off mode.

2002

Founding member of US Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), which introduced energy efficiency requirements for the off mode of computer products.

2003

Implementation of supplier survey initiative on substance use.

2004

Investigation into halogen-free cable enclosures and printed circuit boards initiated.

2004

Phase-out of substances restricted by the European Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) initiated.

2005

Implementation of the Apple Supplier Code of Conduct, which governs environmental, health and safety, and human rights issues in Apple’s supply chain.

2006

All Apple products worldwide are compliant with the European Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in electronics, also known as the RoHS Directive.

2007

First products shipped with bromine-free printed circuit board laminates.

2007

First MacBook Pro with mercury-free LED backlit display.

2008

First MacBook with arsenic-free LCD display glass.