From 2025, Apple will only use recycled cobalt in all devices
Apple will switch entirely to using recycled cobalt from 2025. For example, all devices will feature batteries made from it. This is currently about a quarter says the company, but the proportion of recycled cobalt is rising sharply. Other used materials should also be reused. This is a bigger part of Apple's efforts to make every product completely climate-neutral. Read more about this development at Apple here.
Apple's new goals
Apple has officially announced its intention to do this, as can be read here. So the deadline is 2025. All the cobalt the company uses in iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Macbooks etcetera by then must be made of 100% recycled cobalt. Cobalt is in the devices' batteries, most of which Apple designs itself. Magnets in all Apple devices must also contain fully recycled rare earths by 2025. Printed circuit boards from the company must use fully recycled solder and gilding. So the ultimate goal is for all Apple products to use only recycled and renewable materials. This all contributes to the goal of having every product climate-neutral by 2030. Over the past three years, Apple has already greatly expanded on recycled cobalt. By 2022, a quarter of cobalt was recycled in Apple products, down from 13% in 2021.
Most cobalt from Congo
Cobalt is an essential material for batteries used in many consumer electronics. A good portion of cobalt production worldwide takes place in Congo, Africa. Many human rights organisations have pointed out to tech companies in the past that a large number of minors are working in these cobalt mines in dangerous conditions. So now Apple wants to do something about that by working with experts from Global Human Rights to support people dependent on mining in Africa. Thus, Apple itself says that they "maintain the highest human rights and environmental standards throughout the supply chain".
No more plastic and recycled earth metals
Apple is also committed to no plastic and the use of recycled earth metals. The share of recycled earth metals already increased from 45% to 73% by 2022. By 2025, Apple also aims to use no plastic in its packaging. Currently, only 4% of packaging uses plastic, so the remainder must also become plastic-free. This will require changes in labels and lamination, among other things. So Apple has ambitious plans in terms of human rights and climate.
In any case, we think this is all a very good development within Apple and hope that they can fulfil these goals!
