Apple Used Almost 20% Recycled Materials in its Devices

Apple announced in 2021 that nearly 20% of all materials used in Apple products were recycled, the highest percentage of recycled content ever. For the first time, certified recycled gold was used to coat the motherboard and cables of the front and rear cameras of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro.

To reach this milestone, Apple says it has pioneered an industry-leading level of traceability to build a gold supply chain with recycled content alone.

Apple also announced the latest recycling innovation, Taz, a machine that uses a breakthrough approach to improve material recovery from traditional electronic equipment recycling.

In 2021, 59% of all the aluminum Apple supplies to its products comes from recycled sources, and many products use 100% recycled aluminum for their enclosure. Since 2015, the company has reduced the amount of plastic in its packaging by 75%.

Apple also said it is working to extend the life of the product through refurbishment. In 2021, Apple sent 12.2 million devices and accessories to new owners for reuse, extending their lifespan and reducing the need for future mining.