Apple resorts to recycling to address cobalt mining concerns
Apple plans to use only recycled cobalt in its batteries by 2025 as part of its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Apple has announced that it will use only recycled cobalt in its batteries by 2025, as part of its goal to make all products carbon neutral by 2030. Cobalt is largely used in the company’s designed batteries that power devices such as iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and MacBook.
The initiative comes at a time when several countries are developing strategies to improve the resilience of supply chains of critical raw materials, and it represents a step towards a more sustainable digital sector. In the past, several tech companies have been accused of contributing to the deaths of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who were forced to mine cobalt, an essential material in consumer electronics batteries.
Apple will also use entirely recycled rare earth elements in magnets by 2025, and 100% recycled tin soldering and recycled gold plating in all Apple-designed printed circuit boards. The company is working towards making every product carbon neutral by 2030.