Apple 2018 Environmental Report Details Renewable Energy Initiatives; Greenpeace Criticizes Recycling Robot

On Thursday, Apple published its 2018 Environmental Responsibility Report, which highlights its recent renewable energy achievements.

Above everything else in the report, Apple highlighted its recent achievement in making all of its first-party operations powered by clean and renewable sources. These renewable sources include investments in wind and solar power, like the solar farms and rooftop solar panels lining Apple Park.

“But this is just the beginning of how we’re reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. We’re continuing to go further than most companies in measuring our carbon footprint, including manufacturing and product use. And we’re making great progress in those areas too.”

Apple noted that it has a new recycling robot, called Daisy, which is an upgraded version of Liam that the company debuted in 2016. The report notes that Daisy is a lot smaller and faster than Liam, with a capacity to disassemble 200 iPhones per hour.

Greenpeace criticized Apple’s report and said the iPhone maker should focus on making products that last longer, instead of focusing on recycling. Senior Greenpeace analyst Gary Cook said that Apple designs should encourage and allow users to fix their own devices:

“Rather than another recycling robot, what is most needed from Apple is an indication that the company is embracing one of its greatest opportunities to reduce its environmental impact: repairable and upgradeable product design. This would keep its devices in use far longer, delaying the day when they’d need to be disassembled by Daisy.

Customers want to keep their devices longer, as evidenced by a 3 to 4 week wait for a battery replacement at Apple retail stores earlier this year, when Apple was compelled to dramatically reduce the replacement cost.

Apple did cite device durability and longevity as its goals, but did not elaborate as to how they would achieve this.

Greenpeace did praise Apple for its focus on renewable energy saying that it is doing a much better job than its competitors.

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