Apple And Climate Change: Company Vows To Stop Mining And Use 100% Recycled Material For The iPhone

To be more environmentally friendly, Apple is looking to stop mining the Earth, the company said Thursday in its 2017 Environment Responsibility Report.

Apple, which is one of the most environmentally conscious companies, released the report just ahead of Earth Day on Saturday.

“It sounds crazy, but we’re working on it,” the company said of its plan to stop mining altogether. “We’re moving toward a closed-loop supply chain. One day we’d like to be able to build new products with just recycled materials, including your old products.”

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Apple said it’s looking for ways to recycle material, including aluminum, copper, cobalt and tin. By recycling, the company will try to reduce its footprint in the environment.

“Climate change is undeniable,” Apple said. “Earth’s resources won’t last forever. And technology must be safe for people to make and use. We don’t question these realities — we challenge ourselves to ask what we can do about them in every part of our business.”

The report also detailed environmental milestones for the company. In 2016, 96 percent of the electricity used at Apple’s global facilities came from renewable energy, reducing its carbon emissions by nearly 585,000 metric tons. Apple also said it’s 100 percent renewable in 24 countries and all of Apple’s data centers.

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The iPhone seller also cited its new campus Apple Park, which will be the “largest LEED Platinum-certified building in North America.” Apple Park will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy and will be home to more than 9,000 drought-tolerant trees, the report said.

Apple is also pushing its manufacturers to help fight climate change. The company said seven major suppliers have vowed to power their production of Apple products solely on renewable energy by the end of next year.

The report detailing Apple’s mining plans comes after a 2016 Amnesty International investigation found Apple battery suppliers used child labor to mine cobalt.