The world’s biggest tech players are racing against time to slash their carbon emissions to zero. Apple has made significant strides, claiming over half of its goal is already achieved. Since 2015, the tech giant has cut its emissions by roughly 60%, covering everything from manufacturing to customer use.
While many companies have reduced their direct emissions, aided by affordable renewable energy, the challenge intensifies when it comes to Scope 3 emissions. These are emissions from suppliers and customers, outside the company’s direct influence.
Apple is leading innovation in tackling these harder-to-control emissions. For instance, alongside the launch of the Apple Watch Series 9, it announced plans to purchase renewable energy on behalf of its customers. The same initiative extended to buyers of the M4 Mac mini the following year.
The Mac mini release also drew attention to the significant carbon footprint of semiconductors in electronics. The base model, with modest RAM and storage, results in 32 kg of carbon emissions throughout its life cycle. The more advanced version, with greater memory and storage, reaches 121 kg, (almost four times as much) due to the additional chips.
Apple has been collaborating with semiconductor suppliers to address this issue. So far, 26 suppliers have committed to reducing fluorinated greenhouse gases by 90%. These gases are crucial for chip production but are among the most harmful to the environment, with some compounds warming the planet nearly 10,000 times more than CO2.
Apple has set an ambitious goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 75% by 2030, with five years remaining. The remaining 25% will be offset through carbon removal programs, which is a common strategy for companies facing similar challenges. Microsoft, for example, is investing in technology like direct air capture, while Apple favors nature-based solutions such as reforestation for their immediate benefits.
Image: DIW-Aigen
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While many companies have reduced their direct emissions, aided by affordable renewable energy, the challenge intensifies when it comes to Scope 3 emissions. These are emissions from suppliers and customers, outside the company’s direct influence.
Apple is leading innovation in tackling these harder-to-control emissions. For instance, alongside the launch of the Apple Watch Series 9, it announced plans to purchase renewable energy on behalf of its customers. The same initiative extended to buyers of the M4 Mac mini the following year.
The Mac mini release also drew attention to the significant carbon footprint of semiconductors in electronics. The base model, with modest RAM and storage, results in 32 kg of carbon emissions throughout its life cycle. The more advanced version, with greater memory and storage, reaches 121 kg, (almost four times as much) due to the additional chips.
Apple has been collaborating with semiconductor suppliers to address this issue. So far, 26 suppliers have committed to reducing fluorinated greenhouse gases by 90%. These gases are crucial for chip production but are among the most harmful to the environment, with some compounds warming the planet nearly 10,000 times more than CO2.
Apple has set an ambitious goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 75% by 2030, with five years remaining. The remaining 25% will be offset through carbon removal programs, which is a common strategy for companies facing similar challenges. Microsoft, for example, is investing in technology like direct air capture, while Apple favors nature-based solutions such as reforestation for their immediate benefits.
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