iPhone 16e Product Environmental Report

Progress toward our 2030 goal

More than 30% recycled content

Over 30% of manufacturing electricity sourced from supplier low-carbon energy projects

Packaging

100% fiber-based packaging, achieved through efforts to remove plastic.

100% recycled or responsibly sourced wood fibers.

Smarter chemistry

• [free-of-arsenic] glass
• [free-of-mercury]
• [free-of-brominated-flame-retardant]
• [free-of-PVC]

Recovery

Return devices through Apple Trade In for a new life or free recycling.

Longevity

iPhone 16e features Ceramic Shield and IP68 water and dust resistance for enhanced durability.

Supplier Code of Conduct

Apple sets strict standards for safeguarding people and the environment in its supply chain through the Apple Supplier Code of Conduct.

Product carbon footprint calculations

Calculations include in-box accessories and packaging.

Progress toward carbon neutral

iPhone 16e 128GB emissions reduced by over 30% compared to a business-as-usual scenario. The product contains over 30% recycled content, including 85% recycled aluminum in the enclosure, reducing total product emissions by approximately 10%. Over 30% of manufacturing electricity is sourced from supplier low-carbon energy projects, reducing product emissions by about 25%.

Carbon Footprint Breakdown

The product carbon footprint is visualized as a stacked bar chart. The baseline emissions are represented by a total of 75 kg CO2e. This is broken down into:

• Materials and process emissions: 26 kg
• Electricity for manufacturing: 48 kg
• Electricity for product use and Transportation: (remaining portion not explicitly quantified in this view but shown as contributing to total)

Emissions reductions are achieved through recycled and low-carbon materials, and low-carbon electricity for manufacturing. The total product emissions are 48 kg CO2e.

The chart visually shows how emissions are reduced from a baseline to a total product emission, with contributions from materials, manufacturing electricity, product use electricity, and transportation.

Taking responsibility for our products at every stage

Apple takes responsibility for its products throughout their life cycles, focusing on reducing climate impact, conserving resources, and using safer materials.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Design and Source: Maximize recycled content, responsibly source primary materials, restrict harmful substances.
• Make: Uphold high standards for labor, human rights, health, safety, and environmental impact in the supply chain.
• Use: Minimize emissions from product use, enhance product longevity, avoid harmful chemicals.
• Package and Ship: Remove plastic from packaging, minimize transportation emissions.
• Recover: Reuse products via Apple Trade In, maximize material recovery at end of life.

Design and Source

iPhone 16e contains more than 30 percent recycled content. Apple aims to source only recycled or renewable materials and is committed to responsible sourcing of primary materials, mapping many materials to their mineral source and establishing strict standards for smelters and refiners. Apple requires identified tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold, cobalt, and lithium smelters and refiners to participate in third-party audits.

By the end of 2025, Apple plans to use 100% recycled cobalt in batteries, 100% recycled tin soldering and 100% recycled gold plating in printed circuit boards, and 100% recycled rare earth elements in magnets.

Recycled Material Breakdown:

• Aluminum: 85% recycled aluminum in the enclosure.
• Glass: 10% recycled glass in the back glass.
• Plastic: 50% or more recycled plastic in 15 components; 25% recycled content in antenna lines from upcycled plastic bottles.
• Tin: 100% recycled tin in the solder of all Apple-designed printed circuit boards.
• Cobalt: 100% recycled cobalt in the battery.
• Gold: 100% recycled gold wire in all cameras and 100% recycled gold in plating for printed circuit boards, USB-C connector, and small parts.
• Rare earth elements: 100% recycled rare earth elements in all magnets (96% of total rare earth elements).
• Tungsten: 100% recycled tungsten in the Taptic Engine (98% of total tungsten).
• Copper: 100% recycled copper in printed circuit boards, Taptic Engine wire, and inductive charger foil and wire.
• Lithium: 100% recycled lithium in the battery cathode (over 95% of total lithium).
• Steel: 80% or more recycled steel in components like the back glass support plate and speaker.

Smarter chemistry:

iPhone 16e is free of harmful substances including brominated flame retardants, PVC, phthalates, arsenic in glass, and mercury. 100% of materials are covered by the Regulated Substances Specification. Apple aims to understand non-regulated substances, achieving transparency for over 80% by mass of iPhone 16e devices.

Make

The Apple Supplier Code of Conduct sets strict standards for safeguarding people and the environment. Apple assesses supplier performance annually and works closely with them to provide safe workplaces and reduce environmental impact. This includes helping suppliers transition to low-carbon electricity, providing educational opportunities, and supporting waste reduction.

Smarter chemicals in manufacturing:

All established iPhone 16e final assembly supplier sites use safer cleaners and degreasers, as determined by methodologies like the GreenScreen® assessment.

Zero Waste to Landfill:

No established iPhone 16e final assembly supplier sites generate waste sent to landfill.

Supplier energy use:

Over 30% of manufacturing electricity is sourced from supplier low-carbon energy projects, supported by Apple's Supplier Clean Energy Program.

Package and Ship

iPhone 16e packaging is 100% fiber-based, with no plastic except for inks, coatings, and adhesives, aligning with the commitment to remove plastic from packaging by the end of 2025. The packaging contains 60% recycled content, and all virgin wood fiber is responsibly sourced.

The packaging was redesigned to be smaller and more efficient, reducing overall volume by 12%, allowing more boxes per pallet and fewer shipping journeys.

Use

iPhone 16e uses 60% less energy than the energy efficiency standard. Products are designed for energy efficiency, longevity, and safety, utilizing software and power-efficient components for intelligent power management. Apple conducts rigorous testing and provides ongoing support through software updates and expanded access to safe repair services.

To address emissions from product electricity use, Apple is building low-carbon energy projects and engaging customers to support grid decarbonization.

Designed to last:

iPhone 16e features Ceramic Shield and IP68 water and dust resistance to enhance durability.

Made with smarter chemistry:

Rigorous controls are applied to materials users touch, based on toxicologist and dermatologist recommendations.

Recover

Apple Trade In allows customers to return products for a new life or free recycling, either in-store or online. Devices not eligible for credit are recycled for free. Apple participates in product take-back and recycling programs in 99% of countries where products are sold, working with best-in-class recyclers to maximize material recovery.

Apple also creates Apple Recycler Guides to assist professional electronics recyclers in safely disassembling Apple products.

For more information on recycling, visit: apple.com/recycle

Definitions

Bio-based plastics:

Plastics made from biological sources rather than fossil fuels, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Carbon footprint:

Estimated emissions calculated in accordance with ISO 14040, ISO 14044, and ISO 14067 standards. Calculations include production, transport, use, and end-of-life processing phases. Uses IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) global warming potentials (GWP100).

Low-carbon electricity:

Refers to renewable electricity and other fossil-free projects (e.g., nuclear, large-scale hydroelectricity) considered low-carbon by Apple, accounting for the carbon impact of building and operating these projects.

Low-carbon materials:

Materials produced using techniques with reduced carbon impact, such as Elysis technology for aluminum smelting or aluminum smelted using hydroelectricity.

Recycled materials:

Materials sourced from recovered rather than mined materials. Recycled content claims are verified by an independent third party conforming to ISO 14021.

Renewable materials:

Bio-materials that can be regenerated within a human lifespan (e.g., wood fibers, sugarcane), managed responsibly to enable continuous production without depleting resources.

Supplier Clean Energy Program:

Initiative to help suppliers decarbonize Apple production by transitioning electricity use to 100% renewable sources.

Carbon footprint

Greenhouse gas emissions were calculated using a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology in accordance with ISO 14040, 14044, and 14067 standards, based on the iPhone 16e 128GB. The LCA boundary includes the physical product, components, all in-box accessories (such as power cords), and packaging.

Greenhouse gas emissions (iPhone 16e 128GB):

Note: Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

Carbon footprint for alternate configurations:

Modeling of different configurations shows the potential range of carbon emissions. This data is accurate as of launch. There is inherent uncertainty in modeling carbon emissions due to data limitations, addressed by Apple through detailed process-based models for key components and industry-average data for others.

For more information on the methodology, visit: apple.com/environment/answers