Apple today announced that Lens Technology, one of its major suppliers in China, has committed to power all its glass production for Apple with 100 percent renewable energy by 2018. The commitment is a large step in Apple's efforts to help manufacturers lower their carbon footprint in China.

applewindpower

Lens Technology has committed to power all of its glass production for Apple with 100 percent renewable energy by the end of 2018, as part of Apple’s industry-leading supply chain clean energy program announced last year. Lens is the first supplier to make a clean energy commitment for all of its Apple production, and will meet its goal through an unprecedented power purchase agreement with local wind projects.

The Cupertino company also announced that all 14 of its final assembly sites in the country are now compliant with UL's Zero Waste to Landfill validation. The standard, which started in January 2015, certifies that all manufacturing waste is reused, recycled, composted, or converted into energy (when necessary). Since the program began, nearly, 140,000 metric tons of waste have been diverted from landfills.

"We want to show the world that you can manufacture responsibly and we're working alongside our suppliers to help them lower their environment impact in China," Lisa Jackson, Apple's VP of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives said in a statement. "We congratulate Lens for their bold step, and hope by sharing the lessons we've learned in our transition to renewable energy, our suppliers will continue to access clean power projects, moving China closer to its green manufacturing goals."

Two Lens facilities in Changsha, Hunan province are currently used for Apple manufacturing. By 2018, Apple and Lens hope wind energy will cover 100 percent of energy consumed by Apple manufacturing. The change would avoid nearly 450,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Last October, Apple announced two clean energy programs aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of its manufacturing partners in the country. At the time, Apple said the programs would avoid over 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution in China between now and 2020.

Top Rated Comments

H2SO4 Avatar
120 months ago
You should stop throwing away your devices and see how long they can last.

Not only Apple, but people say that nowadays things are "throaway", some things on the market are very well made and good products, there are still some good manufacturers/product lines. iPhones, specially, last much longer than people normally use them. And the only reason they do upgrade is because the newer one looks slightly different and has a light that blinks 2x faster, and a couple of new tricks to show their friends.
If I have a RAM failure on a unit that has it wave soldered in. It’s throw away.
I don’t make a habit of throwing things out becuase they are old. Companies, like Apple, are making their products irrepairable.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H2SO4 Avatar
120 months ago
Ok, so the idea behind this sounds excellent. 75% of the way there in my eyes.
All they need to do now is stop making throwaway appliances and that’ll take it to 100.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S.B.G Avatar
120 months ago
"We want to show the world that you can manufacture responsibly and we're working alongside our suppliers to help them lower their environment impact in China," Lisa Jackson, Apple's VP of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives said in a statement. "We congratulate Lens for their bold step, and hope by sharing the lessons we've learned in our transition to renewable energy, our suppliers will continue to access clean power projects, moving China closer to its green manufacturing goals."
It makes me happy to see Apple, such a huge global company, be a leader in environmental responsibility like this, especially in China where they have most of their manufacturing done. I certainly hope other companies take a cue and make efforts to follow suit.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
5105973 Avatar
120 months ago
Where I live there was a power company bragging about their renewable energy strategy. Turns out they were burning "bio-mass" (aka. Trees) to make power.
Sounds like the same company near my friend's home that bought a huge parcel of wooded land and is planning to cut down all the trees to build a wind farm. :confused:

Windmills are not without their negative impacts on nature, either. Mainly their production of infrasound and the possible effects on animals and humans. But that's a topic for another place and time.

At this point China probably needs to curb emissions more than it needs to worry about infrasound pollution.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H2SO4 Avatar
120 months ago
Ever hear of out of warranty repair or trade in programs. Those iPhones aren't just thrown away.
LOL. Way to not see the whole point.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mr.steevo Avatar
120 months ago
Where I live there was a power company bragging about their renewable energy strategy. Turns out they were burning "bio-mass" (aka. Trees) to make power.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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