Apple and the Environment

Building world-class products includes considering the environmental footprint of the materials that go into their creation. From the glass and metal in our products to the paper and ink in our packaging, our continued goal is to reduce or eliminate environmentally harmful substances.

Removing toxic chemicals

Apple recognizes the need for environmentally responsible production, including the use of recycled and bio-based materials and the elimination of environmentally harmful substances.

The greatest challenge facing our industry today is the presence of arsenic, brominated flame retardants (BFRs), mercury, phthalates, and PVC in products. In keeping with our philosophy over the last decade, Apple is not waiting for legislation to ban these substances. Not only are we targeting BFRs and PVC, but we are also eliminating all forms of bromine and chlorine wherever technically possible. We are on track to achieve this goal years ahead of anyone else in the industry.

The substances listed below are restricted or banned from use in Apple’s products, packaging, and manufacturing processes.

Substances banned from products

• Asbestos
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Hexavalent chromium (CrVI)
• Lead (Pb), above and beyond RoHS requirements
• Organic tin
• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs)
• Polychlorinated naphthalene (PCNs)
• Polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs)
• Red phosphorus
• Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs)

Substances being removed from products

• Arsenic in display glass
• All brominated compounds, including TBBP-A
• All chlorinated compounds, including PVC
• Phthalates, including DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP
• Mercury

• Lead: Apple completely eliminated the use ofcathode-ray tube monitors containing lead in 2006. Apple also eliminated lead in batteries years ahead of the European battery directive. Apple’s plastic parts, paint, and packaging material do not contain lead.
• Brominated flame retardants (BFRs): In addition to eliminating TBBP-A and other BFRs in printed circuit board laminates, Apple is eliminating all bromine-containing compounds typically found in flexible printed circuits, connectors, electrical components, plastic enclosures, adhesives, insulators, and other parts.
• Beryllium: Beryllium is added to copper in minute quantities to improve the reliability of internal parts that are subjected to repeated mechanical stresses. Apple audits its recyclers to ensure that appropriate safety measures are taken at each facility. As an extra precaution, we have also made our small remaining applications of beryllium a future target for phaseout.
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and Phthalates: In 1995, Apple eliminated PVC from packaging, years ahead of European packaging restrictions. In addition to banning PVC Apple is taking the additional step of restricting all forms of chlorine-containing materials typically found in paints, inks, shock mounts, and adhesives. These restrictions also includes phthalates such as DEHP that are often associated with the soft plastics used in cables. Apple has already shipped millions of iPhones and iPods that are free from both PVC and DEHP. The European Chemicals Agency recently identified the phthalate DEHP as a substance of very high concern on the European REACH regulation candidate list for authorization. Although REACH only requires manufacturers to report on their use of DEHP, Apple is banning DEHP and other phthalates from all new product designs. Nearly all Apple desktops and notebooks ship with PVC-free and DEHP-free internal cables and Apple is in the final stages of developing and certifying PVC-free AC power cables that are also free of phthalates.
• Arsenic: Arsenic is added to prevent defects during the manufacturing of high-performance glass used in displays. In 2008, Apple introduced arsenic-free display glass in its portable computers, Apple LED Cinema Display, and iPod players.
• Mercury: Apple initiated the transition to mercury-free LED backlighting in portable products starting with the 15-inch MacBook Pro in June 2007. Our list of mercury-free products grew in 2008 with the introduction of the MacBook Air, MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Apple LED Cinema Display. All iPod players and iPhone smartphones use mercury-free LEDs to illuminate their displays.

Substitution Milestones

2008

First products to earn EPEAT Gold are introduced.

2007

Renewable tapioca-based material first integrated into product packaging.

2007

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

2006

Products comply with European RoHS Directive worldwide.

2004

Phase out of RoHS substances initiated.

1999

Lead and cadmium cables restricted.

1998

Halogenated flame retardants restricted in enclosure parts >25g.

1995

PVC in packaging phased out.

1994

Nickel-cadmium batteries phased out.

1992

CFCs in manufacturing restricted.

1991

Lead in batteries banned.

Supplier responsibility

Apple is committed to ensuring that working conditions in our supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible. View the Supplier Code of Conduct as well as our supplier audit reports at Supplier Responsibility.