How Apple Cut Emissions by 60% Ahead of 2030 Goal

Apple reports a 60% drop in greenhouse gas emissions from its 2015 baseline, marking major progress in its aim to become carbon neutral across operations by 2030.

In its Environmental Progress Report, published just before Earth Day 2025, the company sets out how much of that progress hinges on how it manages its supply chain and Scope 3 emissions, which are those not produced directly by Apple, but by companies and activities indirectly linked to it, like suppliers and shipping.

Lisa Jackson, Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, comments: "We're incredibly proud of the progress we're making toward Apple 2030, which touches every part of our business.

"As we get closer to 2030, the work gets even harder - and we're meeting the challenge with innovation, collaboration and urgency."

While the headline number is that Apple is ahead of schedule, the path there has not been simple. The company's strategy is twofold: decarbonise operations directly, then focus on reshaping the supply chain. As of 2024, Apple says it has avoided an estimated 41 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions - a figure it expects to repeat in 2025.

Supply chain cuts and Scope 3 emissions

Apple’s real gains come from its work with suppliers. Scope 3 emissions make up the bulk of Apple’s carbon footprint and it is in this area that the firm has been most active.

In 2024, suppliers using renewable electricity helped avoid 21.8 million tones of emissions, a 17% increase over the previous year. Apple now has 17.8 gigawatts of renewable electricity across its global supply chain.

Energy efficiency is another part of the strategy. By improving how suppliers use power, nearly two million tonnes of emissions were avoided last year. This adds up to large gains at a scale few other companies can match.

Some of the heaviest polluters in Apple’s supply network are semiconductor and display manufacturers.

The company says that 26 semiconductor suppliers have committed to cutting 90% of fluorinated greenhouse gases, these are potent industrial gases used in electronics production, by 2030. All of Apple’s direct display suppliers have made similar commitments.

Together, these groups reduced emissions by 8.4 million tonnes in 2024.

Moving towards recycled materials

On the materials front, Apple says it has nearly reached its 2025 goal of using only recycled rare earth elements in all magnets and recycled cobalt in all Apple-designed batteries.

Rare earth elements are used in tiny quantities but are essential for things like vibration motors and speakers, while cobalt is central to battery production.

Apple-designed batteries account for more than 97% of its cobalt use and magnets are the largest use case for rare earth elements in its products. So hitting these recycling targets represents a major shift in sourcing.

The company’s Zero Waste programme, in place since 2015, has diverted 3.6 million tonnes of waste from landfills, including 600,000 tonnes in 2024 alone. Apple says this is equivalent to avoiding 4.5 million square metres of landfill space.

Products and water targets

These environmental efforts are also showing up in Apple’s product lines.

The new MacBook Air, released this year, includes more than 55% recycled materials — the highest percentage in any Apple product so far. In 2024, the firm also launched its first carbon neutral Mac - the Mac mini - and offers carbon neutral versions of all Apple Watch models, regardless of material.

Where Apple still has work to do is water conservation. It aims to replenish 100% of freshwater withdrawals in high-stress regions by 2030, but so far has partnerships covering just 40% of that goal.

That said, Apple and its suppliers have saved more than 90 billion gallons of fresh water through its Supplier Clean Water Program since 2013. In 2024 alone, suppliers saved 14 billion gallons, with an average water reuse rate of 42%.

The path to 2030 is narrowing, but Apple says it is ready.

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