• How does Apple minimize the environmental impact of its business activities?

  • Apple takes a number of specific measures to reduce our environmental impact over the product’s life cycle; these are discussed extensively throughout this website. For example, product design, responsible manufacturing, energy efficiency, and recycling.

  • What is ISO 14001, and is Apple ISO 14001 certified?

  • ISO 14001 is a voluntary international standard that establishes the requirements for an organization’s environmental management system (EMS). The ISO 14001 standard helps a company manage the environmental impact of its operations in a systematic way that is integrated with overall business management processes. Apple first achieved ISO 14001 certification for a manufacturing site in 1996.

  • Where can I get detailed product environmental data related to Apple products?

  • In 1999, Apple introduced the Apple Product Environmental Specification (APES) files, specifically for the purpose of providing detailed environmental performance data for our products. Visit this resource page to access the APES files for Apple servers, displays, portables and desktop systems.

  • Where can I get Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)?

  • Visit this resource page to access MSDSs for applicable products.

  • Which Apple products have earned the ENERGY STAR®?

  • Information on Energy Star for Apple products can be obtained from the Technical Specifications webpage of each Apple product. Apple products designed to meet ENERGY STAR® conform with the requirements set out in the stricter 4.0 version of Energy Star covering portables, desktops and workstations.

  • Does Apple ban environmentally sensitive substances?

  • Yes. Apple’s Regulated Substances Specification details a broad range of substances that are restricted or banned from use in Apple products, packaging, and manufacturing. Refer to the Responsible Manufacturing section of this website for specific information.

  • Do Apple products contain lead?

  • Apple is in compliance with the European RoHS directive, which restricts the use of lead and other substances. As a result of our precautionary approach to substances, Apple phased-out lead in plastic parts, paint, and packaging material long before the RoHS directive came into effect.

  • Does Apple use ozone-depleting substances?

  • No ozone-depleting substances (ODCs) are used in any processes to manufacture components, materials, or product packaging materials used by Apple, as stipulated by the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer.

  • Can I expand or install key parts and components on my Apple product?

  • Yes. Apple has a dedicated Do-It-Yourself Parts and Services program for customers who wish to purchase and install components themselves. For information, visit the Do-It-Yourself website.

  • Where can I find out about computer take-back and recycling services near me?

  • Apple participates in recycling programs worldwide. Click the appropriate country for information on how to recycle your Apple equipment there: US and Canada, Europe, Taiwan, Japan.

  • What happens to computers when they are recycled?

  • While recycling processes may vary from country to country or recycler to recycler, as a rule there are general steps to break a computer down into its constituent parts for further processing. At the recycler, used equipment is disassembled, and key components that can be reused are removed for reliability testing and refurbishment. Glass and metal can be reprocessed into secondary raw glass and metal materials for use in new products. Plastics can be used as a fuel source for the glass and metal smelting process, or they can be liquefied and pelletized into a raw secondary plastic material. With materials reprocessing and component reuse, Apple often achieves a 90% recovery rate by weight of the original product. The Recycling section of this website offers more detailed information on Apple’s recycling efforts.

  • Does Apple consider recycling performance in its product designs?

  • Yes. Design for recycling is an integral part of Apple’s design process. Many Apple products are designed to facilitate the disassembly of parts and materials for recycling. Further, we select materials to optimize recycling. The aluminum used in the Power Mac G5 and MacBook Pro enclosures, for example, is highly recyclable, as is the polycarbonate used for the iMac and other systems.

  • Does Apple incorporate environmental features into its product designs?

  • Yes. These features are discussed extensively throughout this website. Power management features, for example, have enabled us, in some cases, to dramatically reduce power consumption from one generation of product to another. Further, we design our products to facilitate expandability and recycling, and we ban many environmentally harmful substances. We also build-in many popular features (such as AirPort and Bluetooth) into the main logic board, thereby eliminating the need to design and manufacture additional hardware, which in turn saves on energy usage and the production and recycling of product packaging. To read more about Apple’s efforts in these areas, visit the Product Design section of this website.