By 2025, Apple plans to use only recycled cobalt in all batteries. In addition, all magnets in the devices will only be made of recycled rare earths and all circuit boards will be coated with 100 percent recycled solder and gold.
Apple's new commitment to accelerate the use of recycled materials follows the company's announcement that it will double its investment in the Restore Fund to reduce carbon emissions. The new announcement also ties into the company's overall goal of becoming fully carbon neutral by 2030. explained Lisa Jackson, Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives:
Our goal to one day use 100 percent recycled and renewable materials in our products goes hand in hand with Apple 2030: our goal to make carbon-neutral products by 2030. We're working hard to achieve both goals while driving innovation across our industry.
Apple CEO Tim Cook stated:
Every day, Apple creates innovative technologies that enrich people's lives while protecting the planet we all share. From the recycled materials in our products to the clean energy we use to operate them, our commitment to the environment is integral to our products and our business. We will continue to work to make great technology great for our users and the environment.
Apple: Batteries, magnets and circuit boards
Apple says that in 2021, 13 percent of the cobalt in Apple products came from recycling. In 2022, that share is expected to rise to 25 percent. The use of 100% certified recycled rare earths also increased from 45% in 2021 to 73% in 2022. Apple says it first used recycled rare earths in the iPhone 11's Taptic Engine and now uses them in all devices, especially magnets.
Since magnets make up by far the largest share of rare earths at Apple, the new 2025 goal means that almost all rare earths in Apple products will soon be 100 percent recycled.
Apple's commitment to plating all of its own circuit boards with 100% certified recycled gold also builds on previous efforts. For the iPhone 13, Apple says it introduced "an all-recycled supply chain for the gold plating of the main circuit board." Since then, the same supply chain has been used to make the cables for all of the iPhone 14's cameras, as well as the circuit boards in devices from the AirPods Pro to the Apple Watch. The company is also reinforcing its previous commitment to banning plastic from its packaging, which began with the iPhone 13 in 2021. (Image: Apple)
