Building world-class products includes considering the materials that go into their creation. Our continued goal is to reduce or eliminate environmentally harmful substances from our products and processes.
Responsible Manufacturing
Apple recognizes the need for environmentally responsible production, including the use of recyclable materials and the restriction of chemical compounds or materials that can harm the environment. Apple’s record of restricting harmful substances goes back well over a decade.
The substances listed below are restricted or banned from use in Apple’s products, packaging, and manufacturing processes. Apple takes a precautionary approach toward substances, taking into account customer feedback, new legislation, guidance from non-governmental organizations, recyclers, and our own internal assessments. This rigorous review process ensures that we meet the requirements of consumers and regulators in all countries where our products are sold, with no regional variances.
Substances banned from products
- Asbestos
- Cadmium (Cd)
- Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI)
- Mercury (Hg), except for backlight lamps
- Lead (Pb), above and beyond RoHS requirements
- Organic Tin
- Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs)
- Polychlorinated napthalene (PCNs)
- Polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs)
- Red phosphorous
- Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs)
Substances banned from manufacturing
- Chlorinated organic solvents (e.g., dichloromethane, methyltrichloride, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, etc.)
- Chlorofluorocarbons CFCs/HCFCs/Halons as prioritized under the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
- Lead: Apple completely eliminated the use of cathode-ray tube monitors in 2006 and eliminated lead in batteries years ahead of the European battery directive. In addition to the lead restrictions introduced by the European RoHS Directive, Apple’s plastic parts, paint, and packaging material do not contain lead.
- Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs): Apple plans to completely eliminate the use of brominated flame retardants by the end of 2008. The largest uses of bromine were eliminated from Apple products years ago. Many Apple products have enclosures made of inherently flame retardant aluminum and polycarbonate plastic, reducing the need for added flame retardants. Apple banned the use of polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) years before mandatory restrictions on these substances were introduced by the European RoHS directive. Decabromodiphenyl ether (Deca-BDE) is also banned from Apple products even though its use is currently permitted under the RoHS directive. In addition, Apple does not allow the use of antimony trioxide in plastic parts weighing more than 25 grams.
- Beryllium: Beryllium is added to copper in minute quantities to improve the reliability of internal parts that are subjected to repeated mechanical stresses. Apple audits its recyclers to ensure that appropriate safety measures are taken at each facility. However as an extra precaution we have also made our small remaining applications of beryllium a future target for phase-out.
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): Apple plans to completely eliminate the use of PVC in its products by the end of 2008. Apple has already eliminated PVC in all plastic parts weighing more than 25 grams, with the exception of cable enclosures, which is standard across the industry.
- Arsenic: Used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) throughout the industry, arsenic is added during the manufacturing of high-performance glass to prevent defects. Apple is on track to introduce the company’s first displays using arsenic-free glass in 2007 and plans to completely eliminate the use of arsenic in all displays by the end of 2008.
- Mercury: As part of Apple’s ongoing environmental efforts, Apple plans to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of mercury in flat panel displays. In keeping with this goal, Apple has initiated the transition to mercury-free LED backlighting in portable products starting with the 15-inch MacBook Pro in June 2007 and MacBook Air in January 2008. As this technology becomes more technically and economically feasible, Apple intends to apply it across all displays. All iPods and iPhone use mercury-free LEDs to illuminate their displays.
- Hexavalent Chromium: Apple banned the use of hexavalent chromium years before it appeared as a restricted substance under the European RoHS directive. Hexavalent chromium is typically used as an anti-corrosion protective layer for metal parts.
Apple and RoHS
Apple products are compliant with the European Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, also known as the RoHS directive. Examples of materials restricted by RoHS include lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and PBB and PBDE flame retardants. As a result of our proactive approach to hazardous substances, Apple met many of the RoHS restrictions long before the July 2006 deadline.
Restricted substances timeline
- 1991
- Lead in batteries banned.
- 1992
- CFCs in manufacturing restricted.
- 1994
- NiCd batteries phased-out.
- 1995
- PVC in packaging phased-out.
- 1999
- Lead and cadmium cables restricted.
- 1998
- Halogenated flame retardants restricted in enclosure parts >25g.
- 2004
- Phase-out of RoHS substances initiated.
- 2006
- Products comply with RoHS Directive worldwide.
- 2007
- First products shipped with bromine-free printed circuit board laminates.
- 2007
- First mercury-free display product shipped.
- 2008
- First display product shipped with arsenic-free glass.
Our code of conduct
In addition to preserving the environment, Apple is also committed to protecting the health and safety of our employees, customers, and the global community. We recognize that by integrating sound environmental, health, and safety management practices into all aspects of our business, we can offer technologically innovative products and services while conserving and enhancing resources for future generations.
For example, the Apple Supplier Code of Conduct helps us ensure that working conditions in our supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible. Where laws and regulations do not provide adequate controls, we will adopt our own standards to protect human health and the environment.