Earth talk: Apple takes real steps in green push

Apple just put out a big PR campaign about its sustainability initiatives. Has the company made real progress in this regard or is this just more corporate “greenwashing?” And how are the other big tech companies addressing their carbon footprints?

— Billy A., Oakland, CA

Long criticized for its lack of commitment to sustainability, Apple has really worked on turning things around.

The company recently announced that 94 percent of its corporate facilities and 100 percent of its data centers now operate on power from renewable sources.

Since, the company has unveiled plans showing how its new corporate headquarters — currently under construction in Cupertino, California — will use 30 percent less energy than an equivalent conventional building while playing host to some 7,000 carbon-sequestering trees.

Apple also reports that it has decreased the material required to produce its iPhones, iPads, iPods and Macs. A new iPad Air uses a third less material overall by weight than the original iPad. And all of the company’s retail stores will now take back any Apple products for free recycling — U.S. and U.K. consumers can even earn gift cards for turning in old iPhones, iPads and computers.

Apple still has work to do. The nonprofit Friends of the Earth has been on the company’s case to agree to a plan that will reign in destructive tin mining in Indonesia and elsewhere.

As for other tech/Internet companies, Greenpeace has been assessing and tracking environmental performance of the big players for more than a decade.

Concerned consumers can sign Greenpeace’s online #ClickClean petition.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com

MORE INFORMATION

Apple Environmental Responsibility, www.apple.com/environment; Greenpeace, www.greenpeace.org