Apple Watch Series 9 Carbon Neutral Product Environmental Report
Date Introduced: September 12, 2023
Carbon Neutrality Overview
Apple Watch Series 9, when paired with the Sport Loop, is designed to be carbon neutral. This achievement is supported by a comprehensive environmental strategy focusing on reducing emissions across the product lifecycle.
Key contributions to carbon neutrality include:
- 30% recycled or renewable content in the product.
- 100% of manufacturing electricity sourced from clean energy.
- Commitment from 100% of Apple suppliers manufacturing parts and components to Apple's Supplier Clean Energy Program.
- 50% or more non-air shipping for products.
The product also features "Smarter chemistry," being free from harmful substances such as arsenic, mercury, brominated flame retardants, PVC, and beryllium, and meeting European REACH regulations on nickel. It boasts longevity with 50-meter water resistance and IP6X dust resistance.
Packaging is 100% fiber-based, with 100% recycled or responsibly sourced wood fibers, marking a significant step towards eliminating plastic in packaging.
Through programs like Apple Trade In, Apple facilitates the recovery and recycling of devices, giving materials a new life.
Our Carbon Neutrality Strategy
Apple's overarching goal is to achieve carbon neutrality for its entire manufacturing supply chain and all products by 2030. This involves a substantial reduction in total carbon emissions, aiming for at least a 75 percent decrease from a 2015 baseline.
The strategy prioritizes:
- Transitioning to clean electricity for manufacturing.
- Designing with recycled and renewable materials.
- Prioritizing lower-carbon shipping methods, such as ocean freight.
Carbon credits from high-quality projects are applied only after significant emissions reductions have been achieved.
How Emissions Were Reduced
For the Apple Watch Series 9 and Sport Loop, emissions reductions are achieved through several key initiatives:
- 100% Clean Electricity for Manufacturing: All electricity used in the manufacturing process is sourced from clean energy.
- Matching Charging Emissions: Apple invests in clean energy projects globally to match 100% of customers' expected electricity use for charging the product.
- Increased Non-Air Transportation: Over 50% of the product's weight is shipped using lower-carbon modes like ocean or rail freight.
- Recycled and Renewable Materials: The product incorporates over 30% total recycled content by weight, including 100% recycled aluminum for the enclosure.
These efforts have resulted in a 78% reduction in emissions compared to the product's baseline scenario.
Carbon Footprint Breakdown
The greenhouse gas emissions breakdown for the Apple Watch Series 9 with Sport Loop shows a total product footprint of 8.1 kg CO2e before carbon credits. This footprint is composed of emissions from Production (81%), Electricity for manufacturing (9%), Transportation (14%), Product use (4%), Generation of renewable electricity for production (4%), Generation of renewable electricity for product use (1%), and End-of-life processing. Overall GHG reductions achieved amount to 78%. After applying carbon credits, the net emissions are 0 kg CO2e.
Responsible Product Lifecycle
Apple takes responsibility for its products throughout their entire life cycles, focusing on reducing climate impact, conserving resources, and using safer materials.
Source Materials
The Apple Watch Series 9 paired with Sport Loop contains 30% or more recycled or renewable content. Efforts focus on reducing material usage and sourcing only recycled or renewable materials. Many materials are mapped to their mineral sources, with strict standards for smelters and refiners. All identified tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold, cobalt, and lithium smelters and refiners participate in third-party audits.
- Aluminum: 100% recycled aluminum is used for the case.
- Rare Earth Elements: 100% recycled rare earth elements are used in all magnets, representing 99% of the total rare earth elements in the device.
- Copper: 100% recycled copper foil is used in the main logic board, and 100% copper wire in the Taptic Engine.
- Plastic: Transitioning from fossil fuel-based plastics to renewable or recycled alternatives, with 25% recycled plastic in multiple components.
- Tungsten: 100% recycled tungsten is used in the Taptic Engine.
- Cobalt: 100% recycled cobalt is used in the battery, part of a commitment to use 100% recycled cobalt in Apple-designed batteries by 2025.
- Tin: 100% recycled tin is used in the solder of multiple printed circuit boards.
- Gold: 100% recycled gold is used in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards.
The Sport Loop itself is made with 82% recycled yarns, some derived from discarded fishing nets.
Make
All suppliers manufacturing parts and components for Apple Watch Series 9 and Sport Loop have committed to Apple's Supplier Clean Energy Program. This program aids suppliers in transitioning to clean and renewable energy, reducing product-related carbon emissions and creating a more resilient supply chain.
The Apple Supplier Code of Conduct sets high standards for protecting people and the planet within the supply chain. Suppliers are assessed annually on their performance.
- Greener Chemicals: All final assembly supplier sites use safer cleaners and degreasers, assessed using methodologies like GreenScreen®.
- Zero Waste to Landfill: No established final assembly supplier sites send waste to landfill, verified by UL LLC (UL 2799 Standard).
- Supplier Energy Use: 100% of manufacturing electricity is sourced from clean electricity.
Package and Ship
Packaging for the Apple Watch Series 9 is 100% fiber-based, with minimal plastic content limited to inks, coatings, and adhesives, aligning with the goal of plastic-free packaging by 2025. The packaging contains 47% recycled content and uses wood fiber from responsibly managed forests.
The product box has been redesigned to be smaller and more efficient, reducing volume by 23% and increasing pallet capacity by 25%, thereby reducing shipping journeys.
Shipping prioritizes less carbon-intensive modes, with a plan to ship 50% or more of the total weight of carbon neutral watches and bands using non-air modes like ocean freight.
Use
Apple Watch Series 9 is designed for energy efficiency, longevity, and safety. It utilizes software and power-efficient components for intelligent power management. Apple's Reliability and Environmental Testing Labs ensure product durability. Ongoing support includes software updates and a network of authorized repair professionals.
The product is made with durable materials, rated for 50-meter water resistance (ISO 22810:2010) and IP6X dust resistance.
Rigorous controls are applied to materials users touch, based on recommendations from toxicologists and dermatologists.
Recover
Apple Trade In provides a seamless way for customers to return old devices for credit or free recycling. This extends product life and maximizes material recovery. Apple also participates in product take-back and recycling programs in 99% of countries where it sells products, holding recyclers to high standards.
Apple also creates Recycler Guides to assist professional electronics recyclers in safely disassembling Apple products for maximum resource recovery.
Smarter Chemistry
Apple Watch Series 9 is manufactured without harmful substances such as beryllium, brominated flame retardants, PVC, phthalates, arsenic in display glass, and mercury. It adheres to Apple's Regulated Substances Specification, covering 100% of materials. The product also complies with European REACH regulations concerning nickel.
Carbon Footprint Methodology and Definitions
Apple calculates its product carbon footprints using a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology in accordance with ISO 14040, ISO 14044, and ISO 14067 standards. Calculations consider emissions from Production, Transport, Product Use, and End-of-life processing.
Definitions:
- Bio-based plastics: Plastics derived from biological sources instead of fossil fuels.
- Carbon footprint: Estimated emissions calculated using LCA, accounting for global warming potentials (GWP100) from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6).
- Carbon neutral: Achieved when gross carbon footprint is offset by an equivalent quantity of carbon credits, after substantial emissions reductions have been implemented.
- Clean electricity: Includes renewable electricity and other low-carbon sources like nuclear and large-impact hydroelectricity.
- Low-carbon materials: Materials produced using methods with reduced carbon impact, such as Elysis technology or aluminum smelted using hydroelectricity.
- Recycled materials: Sourced from recovered rather than mined materials, verified by independent third parties.
- Renewable materials: Bio-materials that can be regenerated within a human lifespan and are managed responsibly.
- Supplier Clean Energy Program: Apple's initiative to help suppliers transition to 100% clean electricity sources for Apple production.
High-Quality Carbon Removal and Offsets
Apple aims for carbon neutrality across its value chain by 2030, utilizing a range of solutions including long-term carbon removal initiatives like the Restore Fund. Launched in partnership with Conservation International and Goldman Sachs, the Restore Fund invests in nature-based projects that restore ecosystems, support communities, and generate financial returns.
The fund's initial phase focuses on blending responsible forestry practices with carbon removal. Projects in Brazil and Paraguay are restoring and protecting significant acreage, forecast to remove one million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere starting in 2025.
Apple selects carbon credit projects that align with international standards such as Verra, the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standard, and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), ensuring projects are real, additional, measurable, quantified, and avoid double-counting.
An example project is the Forestal Apepu Carbon Project in Paraguay, focused on afforestation and reforestation of previously deforested land.
Certification
SCS Global Services has certified Apple's commitment to Carbon Neutral Certification for the Apple Watch Series 9 with Sport Loop. The certification is based on the Cradle-to-Grave Greenhouse Gas emission assessment, with verified emissions of 8.03 KGS OF CO2e PER UNIT and total estimated emissions to offset of 8.03 KGS OF CO2e PER UNIT. The certification is valid for the period of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2026.
