Apple Announces Major Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Announces Major Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Apple today announced that it has now reduced its global greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60 percent compared to 2015 levels, as part of its commitment to achieving full carbon neutrality across its entire business footprint by 2030.

apple park sunset
The update was shared ahead of Earth Day as part of the company's 2025 Environmental Progress Report. The 60% milestone includes emissions from corporate operations, manufacturing, and the full product life cycle. The company aims to cut its emissions by 75% overall by 2030, with the remaining 25% to be offset through what it describes as "high-quality carbon credits." According to Apple, its efforts in 2024 alone prevented around 41 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

The report outlines several areas of recent progress, particularly in clean energy adoption across its supply chain and the use of recycled materials in Apple-designed components. As of this year, Apple has achieved the use of 99% recycled rare earth elements in all magnets across its product lines, including in the Taptic Engine found in the iPhone and Apple Watch. The company also reports 99% recycled cobalt usage in batteries that are designed in-house, which it says accounts for over 97% of its total cobalt consumption. The goal is to reach 100% for both materials during 2025.

Apple said that there are now 17.8 gigawatts of renewable electricity in use across its supply chain–a significant increase from previous years. In 2024, the renewable energy used by suppliers helped avoid 21.8 million metric tons of emissions, an increase of more than 17% compared to 2023. Suppliers are also working with Apple to improve energy efficiency, avoiding almost two million metric tons of emissions.

Apple has additionally focused on reducing emissions from the manufacturing of semiconductors and displays, processes that release potent fluorinated greenhouse gases. The company said that 26 of its semiconductor suppliers, as well as all of its direct display suppliers, have now committed to abate at least 90% of fluorinated emissions related to Apple production by 2030.

Since the launch of its Supplier Clean Water Program in 2013, Apple and its suppliers have apparently saved more than 90 billion gallons of fresh water. The company reports that 14 billion gallons were saved in 2024 alone, and that participating suppliers achieved an average reuse rate of 42%. Apple has set a target to replenish 100% of freshwater used in high-stress areas by 2030 and has now initiated partnerships expected to account for over 40% of that goal.

The company's "Zero Waste" program continued to expand last year. Suppliers involved in the program redirected roughly 600,000 metric tons of waste from landfills in 2024, bringing the total to 3.6 million metric tons since the program began in 2015. Moreover, the new MacBook Air is produced using more than 55 percent recycled content—the highest proportion yet in any Apple device.

As part of its Earth Day initiatives, Apple is encouraging users to recycle eligible devices by offering 10% off a new Apple accessory when recycling in-store before May 16. It is also launching a range of themed content and challenges; Apple Watch users will be able to earn a limited-edition award on April 22 by completing a 30-minute workout.

A new episode of Time to Walk featuring actress and environmental advocate Shailene Woodley will be available from April 21 in Apple Fitness+. Additional episodes of Time to Run explore locations such as Lake Tahoe, Zion National Park, and Yellowstone. These are accompanied by a guided ocean breathing meditation.

Apple TV+ is also promoting a selection of nature-themed content for Earth Day, including original series such as Prehistoric Planet, Tiny World, Earth at Night in Color, and The Secret Lives of Animals in a curated collection titled "The Future Is Up to Us." The Tips app now includes a dedicated Earth Day collection that suggests ways iPhone users can reduce environmental impact, such as identifying plants in the Photos app or using downloadable Maps for offline outdoor exploration.

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....

Top Rated Comments

Jumpthesnark Avatar
19 months ago

Yup. No one wants to acknowledge that we're at historically low levels, even if you add in human-generated emissions.

When the narrative doesn't fit, they'll just move the goal-posts again, like they've done decade after decade. Quack science through and through.
"Historically low levels?" The facts ('https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide') are so pesky when they disagree ('https://www.statista.com/statistics/276629/global-co2-emissions/').



Attachment Image
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrr Avatar
19 months ago
Good deal. We need to do everything we can to protect our planet.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
19 months ago

The company aims to cut its emissions by 75% overall by 2030, with the remaining 25% to be offset through what it describes as "high-quality carbon credits."
It's crazy to see big companies brag about participating in scams like these.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnyb098 Avatar
19 months ago
More BS.... They are going all in on AI which uses massive amounts of energy and therefore more emissions.

This entire "climate" activism is smoke and mirrors. AI and crypto use MASSIVE amounts of energy but you are supposed to use a paper straw and buy electric cars to save the planet.... PUHHHHLEASE!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
19 months ago
I would have waited a few more weeks to announce that. Didn't they just fly in a huge amount of iPhones?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sunapple Avatar
19 months ago
Considering their growth in that period such a reduction is impressive. Carbon offsets are not without controversy but some of their efforts are pretty huge and I’ve enjoyed following these advancements.

I do find it a shame that AI is such a power hungry development. Microsoft acquired a nuclear power plant to help power it. In The Netherlands these datacenters take up lots of the wind energy from our North Sea parks. All that beautiful clean energy could be used for households and other industries you would think. It has to come from somewhere I suppose.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)