Apple Now Uses 100% Recycled Materials in Three Categories, Offering 10% Discounts

As we get closer to Earth Day, Apple has announced that it now uses 100 percent recycled materials in three categories of device production. The company also announces its plans to offer 10 percent discounts on AirPods and other accessories when recycling an eligible product.

Apple has published its latest annual Environmental Progress Report. In it, the company shares some milestones and offers some insight into its goals to become carbon neutral by 2030. In the report, Apple states that it now uses 100 percent recycled cobalt in all the batteries it designs. In addition, 100 percent recycled rare earth elements are used in all magnets. Each Apple-designed printed circuit board is made with 100 percent recycled gold plating and tin soldering as well.

Apple now uses 30 percent recycled material across all of its products. The company also fulfilled its promise to remove plastics from its packaging by 2025. Over the past decade, Apple engineers have been developing new packaging methods, replacing plastic screen protectors and trays with ones made from recycled or sourced paper.

Apple has had long-term goals to become carbon neutral by 2030. In its annual report, the Cupertino company states that greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 remain down by more than 60 percent compared to 2015 levels.

One of Apple’s latest products, the MacBook Neo, is said to have achieved “the most recycled content of any Apple device yet.” As part of a new anodizing process, Apple achieved a 70 percent water-reuse rate, creating a closed-loop system in manufacturing. The company states it “is working to expand this anodization process to additional production lines in the coming years.”

As part of its Earth Day commitments, Apple is introducing a temporary incentive program to encourage users to recycle older products. From now until May 16, customers can receive a 10% discount on AirPods and eligible accessories when recycling a product. These products are sent to Apple’s advanced recycling systems for processing.