Apple has announced a major sustainability achievement in its latest environmental report. The company now uses a record 30% recycled materials across its entire product lineup.
This milestone highlights Apple’s push toward its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Additionally, the report outlines several key environmental gains made over the past year.
Key Achievements Across Products
Apple has reached several important targets. For example, it now uses 100% recycled cobalt in batteries and 100% recycled rare earth elements in magnets.
Moreover, all Apple-designed printed circuit boards feature fully recycled gold plating. These changes show a clear shift toward sustainable manufacturing practices.
As noted in the product material details on page 1, these improvements apply across all devices, not just selected models.
Progress in Packaging and Energy
Apple has also improved its packaging and energy use. The company now uses 100% fibre-based packaging for all products. This step eliminates plastic in packaging materials.
At the same time, Apple powers its global operations with 100% renewable energy. Furthermore, it has secured over 20 gigawatts of renewable energy within its supply chain.
These efforts help reduce environmental impact while supporting long-term sustainability goals.
Reducing Waste and Saving Resources
Apple has made significant progress in reducing waste. Since 2020, it has avoided more than 15,000 metric tons of plastic. This reduction equals roughly 500 million plastic water bottles.
In addition, the company has replenished 55% of its corporate water use. Suppliers have also saved 17 billion gallons of water through improved practices.
These numbers reflect a broad effort to conserve resources across the supply chain.
New Recycling Technology Drives Innovation
Apple continues to invest in recycling technology. It introduced a new system called Cora at its Advanced Recovery Center in California.
As shown in the recycling system image on page 3, Cora uses precision shredding and advanced sensors to recover more materials from old devices.
Apple has also developed ARIS, a system that uses deep learning to classify electronic waste more effectively.
Looking Ahead to 2030 Goals
Apple’s latest report, released ahead of Earth Day 2026, shows steady progress toward its environmental targets.
While challenges remain, the company continues to invest in innovation and sustainability. Overall, these efforts position Apple as a leader in environmentally responsible technology.
