Apple Takes Steps Towards Carbon Neutrality: A Meeting with Mother Nature

In this humorous ad by Apple, Mother Nature pays a visit to Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, to discuss the company’s progress in making their operations more environmentally friendly. Mother Nature questions Apple’s commitment to their promise of achieving a zero carbon footprint by 2030. Apple presents updates on their efforts, including using recycled materials, clean electricity, and shipping by ocean to reduce emissions. They also highlight their tree planting and forest restoration projects. Finally, Apple unveils their first carbon neutral product and pledges that by 2030, all Apple devices will have a net-zero climate impact.

Author Icon

Our Summaries are written by our own AI Infrastructure, to save you time on your Health Journey!

How does this happen?

Key Insights:

  • Apple is committed to bringing its entire carbon footprint to zero by 2030.
  • They are in the process of eliminating all plastic from their packaging by the end of next year.
  • Apple is currently using 100% recycled aluminum in the enclosures of their MacBook, Apple TV, and Apple Watch.
  • They are phasing out leather in their iPhone cases.
  • Apple offices, stores, and data centers run on 100% clean electricity.
  • Apple is reducing transportation emissions by shipping more products by ocean rather than air.
  • They are investing in projects worldwide to protect soil, plants, and trees and permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere.
  • Apple has reduced water usage by 63 billion gallons.
  • Apple aims to have all devices with net-zero climate impact by 2030.

Transcript

[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[NERVOUS PANTING]
♪ Suspenseful instrumental music ♪
[SIGHS DEEPLY]
Welcome to Apple, welcome to Apple.
Hi, I’m Tim.
– She should be here any minute.
– How was the weather coming in?
Hi, I’m Tim.
♪ – I’m going to do the „office is already carbon neutral“ thing, right?
– Yeah, all yours.
♪ [NERVOUS BREATHING AND MUTTERING] ♪
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
[GLASS CLINKING]
[RUMBLING]
[WIND BLOWING AND WHISTLING]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
♪ [MUSIC STOPS]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
– I hope we didn’t keep you waiting.
[CHAIR SQUEAKS]
– [WHISPERING] Mother Nature.
– Mother Nature, welcome to Apple. How — How was
the weather getting in?
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
– The weather was however I wanted it to be. Let’s cut to the chase. In 2020, you promised to bring Apple’s entire carbon footprint to zero by 2030. Henry David Thoreau over here said, „We have a profound opportunity to build a more sustainable future for the planet we share.“
– I think our 10 o’clock said the same thing.
– They all do. All right. This is my third corporate responsibility gig today, so who wants to disappoint me first?
– Well, we’ve got some updates we’re excited to share with you —
– Materials! Status.
– Is there a materials person here?
– Yes. We are in the process of eliminating all plastic from our packaging by the end —
– Let me guess. Fifty years from now when someone else is left holding the bag?
– By the end of next year, actually.
– And we’re also currently using 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosures of all our MacBooks, Apple TVs, Apple Watch.
– What about iPod shuffle?
– The… Well… [AWKWARD CROSSCHATTER]
– It’s a joke! Don’t you people make „Ted Lasso“?
– Oh, that’s a different group.
– Um, we’re also phasing out leather in our iPhone cases —
– What about Brando over there? They phasing you out too?
– Oh.
– What’s next?
– Electricity.
– Electricity. Status.
– Uh, we — we’re operating on 100 percent clean electricity.
– What runs on 100 percent clean electricity?
– Every Apple office, store, and data center runs on clean electricity, thanks to you and your powerful wind and sun.
– Mm.
– And Apple offices are already carbon neutral.
– This building is carbon neutral?
– Well, yeah, we do it with a mix of clean energy and eliminating greenhouse emissions. It’s kind of like if you were to —
– You’re seriously explaining carbon neutrality to Mother Nature?
– Right. No, I’m sorry.
– You want to tell me how photosynthesis works too? Don’t.
– Um, also, over 300 suppliers have committed to using 100 percent clean renewable electricity.
– What’s next?
– [INHALES DEEPLY] Transportation.
– I’m proud to report that we’re shipping more products by ocean rather than air, which reduces transportation emissions by 95 percent.
– Ninety-five percent? ♪ Not too bad.
– I’m also happy to report that we’re investing in projects around the world that protect the earth’s soil, plants, and trees.
– [SCOFFS] Everyone says they’re planting trees.
– We’ve planted forests.
– Oh! Hello.
– Where?
– Paraguay, Brazil.
– What, are you trying to save the tropical savanna? ♪
– Yes. And we’ve also restored mangroves in Colombia.
– What else?
– Grasslands in Kenya.
– Why?
– Our aim is to permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere.
– What about your water usage?
– We’ve reduced it.
– By how much?
– Sixty-three billion gallons.
– Sixty-three million?
– Billion. ♪ ♪ Serene classical music ♪
♪ – As you can see, we’ve innovated and retooled almost every part of our process to reduce our impact on the planet. But there’s still a lot more work to do.
– And there’s something else we wanted to share with you.
– You’re not trying to bribe Mother Nature with Apple swag?
– It’s Apple’s very first carbon neutral product.
♪ Serene strings music ♪
– Hm. I want to see you do more of this.
– You will.
– When?
– By 2030, all Apple devices will have a net zero climate impact.
– All of them?
– All of them.
– They better.
– They will.
♪ Suspenseful strings music ♪
♪ – OK! Good! See you next year.
[DEEP SIGH] Don’t disappoint your mother!
[RELIEVED SIGHING]
– That was awesome.
[GLEEFUL SQUEAL]
– Woo!