Apple Partners With RESOLVE in Effort to Source Gold From Miners Committed to Habitat Restoration

Apple today announced it has partnered with non-profit organization RESOLVE to seek out innovative ways to source gold responsibly.

salmon gold bar
The problem: gold mining operations in Alaska and the Yukon region have resulted in a reduction in the salmon population in the creeks and streams being mined. RESOLVE's solution: combine mining with habitat restoration to improve the streams so that salmon and other species of fish return.

To accomplish this, RESOLVE introduced the "Salmon Gold" program in 2017 to connect local placer miners with environmentalists and government agencies in an effort to reverse the damage done from historic mining in the region.

Apple, which uses small amounts of gold for certain components in its products, says it will begin sourcing gold from miners participating in the program. This fall, Apple says all Salmon Gold entering its supply chain will be traced from the mine to the refiner using blockchain technology.

Paula Pyers, Apple's head of supplier responsibility:

As we continue to increase our use of recycled materials, we’re seeking out innovative ways to source gold responsibly. Partnering with Tiffany, a pioneer in sustainable sourcing, as well as RESOLVE ensures Salmon Gold can be an example of how the industry can evolve.

Stephen D'Esposito, CEO of RESOLVE:

There's a lot of tension between mining and salmon. Salmon Gold is like a peace treaty between mining and salmon habitat. It's a place where the three sectors can work together: the restoration community, First Nations and the mining industry.

RESOLVE has secured restoration plans with three miners in Alaska and the Yukon, with several more under consideration for next summer.

Popular Stories

Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:07 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation ...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Apple Says These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer All-New CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can also adjust...
vision pro video recording

WSJ: Some Apple Vision Pro Buyers 'Feel Total Regret'

Friday May 16, 2025 7:43 am PDT by
Apple's Vision Pro headset has left many early adopters expressing dissatisfaction over its weight, limited use cases, and sparse software ecosystem, according to a new article from The Wall Street Journal. In the year following the device's launch, user feedback suggests that it has failed to meet expectations for comfort, software support, and social acceptance. In interviews conducted by T...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Could Debut Advanced Silicon Battery Tech

Friday May 16, 2025 8:00 am PDT by
The upcoming all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air could become the first Apple smartphone to adopt advanced battery technology, with Japanese supplier TDK preparing to ship its new generation of silicon-anode batteries by the end of June. According to DigiTimes, TDK CEO Noboru Saito revealed in a recent interview that the Apple supplier has accelerated its production timeline, moving shipments...
iOS 18 Siri Personal Context

Apple Will Reportedly Be More Cautious About Announcing New Features Well in Advance

Sunday May 18, 2025 2:50 pm PDT by
Apple plans to mostly stop announcing new features more than a few months before they are ready to launch, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett. The pair of reporters revealed this noteworthy tidbit towards the bottom of a lengthy report about Apple's artificial intelligence shortcomings today. This alleged change in strategy comes after Apple was forced to delay its more...

Top Rated Comments

realtuner Avatar
75 months ago
Well gold is the best conductor. It is amazing how much of it gets sent to space.
Gold is not the best conductor. Silver is the best followed by copper. Gold is in 3rd. The reason gold is used in electronics is because it doesn’t oxidize. It’s an ideal plating to put on something like a connector (the contacts) because of this to maintain a good connection over time.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DCW Avatar
75 months ago
I like that Apple at least genuinely tries to be environmentally friendly. This, the solar farms, their amped-up recycling program. All good stuff. I mean, if you care about such things.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
75 months ago
Of course the environment and changing how individuals and corporations use and abuse it is a very important issue and deserves lots of attention. But the left hand of Apple jumps on every bandwagon as a PR stunt while the right hand is doing things completely opposite. So sad but so typical of what Apple has become under Cook.
I don't understand...

Why do you continue to support and reward Apple with your currency by purchasing their products if you feel their environmental programs are simply PR stunts?

Since you have strong opinions on this subject and care about the environment, surely you can make the effort and purchase your tech products from companies that have demonstrated environmental policies that are proven to be significantly better than Apple's, and free from this left hand/right hand hypocrisy that concerns you so much. Right?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lunarworks Avatar
75 months ago
"Apple, which uses small amounts of gold for certain components in its products,"

Gold plated Macs in the future.
I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic, but nearly every electronic device you own has a bit of gold in it. The gold medals for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are being made of gold recovered from recycled electronics, like phones.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Skika Avatar
75 months ago
will be traced from the mine to the refiner using blockchain technology.
Most interesting
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nebulance Avatar
75 months ago
I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic, but nearly every electronic device you own has a bit of gold in it. The gold medals for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are being made of gold recovered from recycled electronics, like phones.
So much of the cabling and miscellaneous components in my hardware in the lab is gold/gold plated; and it's especially useful for when I need non-magnetic components, when working in strong magnetic fields.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)