Apple revealed that about 20% of all material used in its products in 2021 was recycled, marking the company’s highest-ever use of recycled materials.
Certified recycled gold was utilized for the first time in the plating of the main logic board and wire in the front and back cameras of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro.
Apple said it pioneered industry-leading levels of traceability to develop a gold supply chain of exclusively recycled content to reach this milestone.
“As people around the world join in celebrating Earth Day (April 22), we are making real progress in our work to address the climate crisis and to one day make our products without taking anything from the earth,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives.
Apple also unveiled Taz, their newest recycling technology, which employs a ground-breaking technique to boost material recovery from traditional electronics recycling.
Apple supplied 59 percent of all aluminum in its products from recycled sources in 2021, with many items sporting enclosures made entirely of recycled aluminum.
Since 2015, the company has reduced the amount of plastic used in its packaging by 75%.
In 2021, Apple goods will contain 45 percent certified recycled rare earth elements, a significant increase over the company’s previous use of recycled rare earth elements in its products.
The goods contained 30% certified recycled tin, with all new iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and Mac devices including 100% recycled tin in the main logic boards’ solder.
They also included 13 percent certified recycled cobalt, which is used in iPhone batteries that can be disassembled and resold using Apple’s recycling robot Daisy.
Apple also stated that it is committed to extending the life of its products by refurbishing them.
Apple distributed 12.2 million devices and accessories to new owners for reuse in 2021, extending their lives and minimizing the need for future mining.
Apple’s long-term goal is to employ entirely renewable or recyclable materials in its devices, a target set in 2017 that has guided the company’s design and material sourcing decisions.
