On average a single iPhone contains 63 grams of mind material, 17% aluminium, 16% stainless steel, and 12% glass\u00a0[1]. All three materials are mined and extracted from the earth which causes trapped carbon dioxide (CO2) to be released from the sub-surface of the earth. However, in order for miners to reach these materials, they require additional equipment that are heavily depend on energy which are contributing to the CO2 emissions as well. Furthermore, the main source of energy that is used in the extraction process is produced from fossil resources which in itself is a large contributor to emissions of CO2 that is increasing the carbon footprint\u00a0[2]. Mineral mining is extremely sensitive to climate change since its fully reliant on the availability of natural resources. Change in climate could cause the cost of operations and excavations to rise given the increase in the unpredictability of the weather conditions such as droughts, storms, earthquakes, and rising sea levels that could cause severe damage to the deep mines, which will further limit the availability of mineral resources and increase the operational and safety costs to mine [2]. Therefore, as it gets harder and more expensive to mine for minerals due to the aforementioned reasons I believe Apple\u2019s supply chain cost will rise as the carbon footprint increases, which will then have an impact on the company\u2019s profitability. Furthermore, as more and more people become aware of the effects that climate change could have on their hometowns and life in general, Apple becomes more susceptible to criticism and blame, which could jeopardize their reputation and therefore the demand from retailers could decrease.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Apple\u2019s plan <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n So far Apples total carbon footprint is 29.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, with the lead contributor being manufacturing with a share of 77% of Apples total carbon footprint due to the large amounts of power needed during the manufacturing process [3].<\/p>\n Apple broke down the manufacturing carbon footprint to five main sources: 35% integrated circuits, 29% aluminium, 13% boards and flexes, 5% display, and 4% glass. Two of the five contributors are mined minerals [3].<\/p>\n In the past year Apple has committed itself to various efforts that will reduce its carbon footprint around the world in an effort to fight climate change and maintain its positive reputation. Apple has focused on four areas to reduce its carbon foot print [3]:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Manufacturing<\/em><\/p>\n Previously Apple limited itself from utilizing scrap aluminium. However, Apple has redesigned its production process to incorporate scrap aluminium, which caused a reduction in the use of aluminium [3].<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bonds<\/em><\/p>\n Apple has issued 1.5 billion dollars in green bonds, which are used to finance green projects that support the development of renewable resources\u00a0[3].<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suppliers<\/em><\/p>\n According to Apple environment reports, 14 suppliers have committed to 100% renewable resources when producing apple products. The suppliers\u2019 commitment should add 4 gigawatts of clean energy generation to the total power generation capacity in the world. However, that milestone is only halfway through and apple expects to meet that target within the next three years [4].<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Facilities <\/em><\/p>\n Apple aims to power all its plants and buildings with 100% renewable energy and use the excess capacity to produce clean energy that will be distributed to the communities around its facilities. Apple is also in the middle of constructing the largest LEED platinum certified building that will be the home of 16000 trees\u00a0[3].<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Recommendation<\/strong><\/p>\n Although apple has gone through great efforts to fight climate change, it pains me that there is no evidence that they have gone further down the supply chain to the suppliers of the raw materials (the miners) to ensure that they are imposing the same rules and regulations that would also help reduce the carbon footprint overall. Apple has taken the first step by controlling its actions, however a company as large as Apple can do much more. I recommend that apple puts a team from its end on the mining sight to ensure that the mining process is as clean as it can be at this stage. However, in the long term I recommend that apple builds a training facilities in the rural areas to educate the miners and mining companies about climate change. I would also recommend that apple rewards suppliers that mine using renewable resources by paying a higher price for their products, which is aimed to encourage miners to invest in clean energy equipment or to provide them with the clean energy equipment need to conduct the excavation process.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While Apple is incentivised to change its behaviour to protect its reputation, households especially the ones living in areas where energy is heavily subsidised do not see an added benefit or cost cuts. Is it possible that those people switch to clean energy regardless of the cost?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Word count: 796<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sources<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Apple, “Climate Change,” 2 2017. [Online]. Available: https:\/\/www.apple.com\/environment\/climate-change\/. [Accessed 3 11 2017].<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On average a single iPhone contains 63 grams of mind material, 17% aluminium, 16% stainless steel, and 12% glass\u00a0[1]. All three materials are mined and extracted from the earth which causes trapped carbon dioxide (CO2) to be released from the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9787,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[],"class_list":["post-21010","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","hentry","hck-taxonomy-organization-apple","hck-taxonomy-industry-computer","hck-taxonomy-country-united-states"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/rc-tom-challenge-2017\/","yoast_head":"\n\n\n
\n [1]<\/td>\n Apple, “Environmental Report,” 9 2016. [Online]. Available: https:\/\/images.apple.com\/environment\/pdf\/products\/iphone\/iPhone_7_PER_sept2016.pdf.<\/p>\n \n [2]<\/td>\n adelphi, “Climate Change and mining,” adelphi, 6 2016. [Online]. Available: https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjfn6m8oqPXAhUS_KQKHaRjClYQFggoMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.climate-diplomacy.org%2Ffile%2F2366%2Fdownload%3Ftoken%3DpNCxjxXU&usg=AOvVaw0xt-WVsyzEplFSbJNtlM7-. [Accessed 3 11 2017].<\/p>\n \n [3]<\/td>\n <\/p>\n \n [4]<\/td>\n Apple, “Apple Supplier Clean Energy Program,” 4 2017. [Online]. Available: https:\/\/images.apple.com\/environment\/pdf\/Apple_Supplier_Clean_Energy_Program_Update_October_2017.pdf. [Accessed 11 2017].<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n