Apple reveals renewable energy progress

Apple has outlined a suite of improvements to its sustainability credentials and addressed the increasing threat of climate change in a recent announcement from the tech giant’s environment chief.

Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice-president of environmental initiatives, revealed that 94 per cent of its corporate facilities and 100 per cent of its data centres are now powered by renewable energy sources.

Jackson said in a letter, “We feel the responsibility to consider everything we do in order to reduce our impact on the environment. We aim to create not just the best products in the world, but the best products for the world. We have a long way to go, but we are proud of our progress.

The letter also outlined how energy use of its products has been reduced by an impressive 57 per cent and important work has been conducted to remove toxins from its supply chain.

The firm is also renowned for its push to recycle all old Apple products.

Jackson continued: “We push ourselves every day to develop innovations that reduce our carbon footprint, use cleaner and safer materials, and show that what’s good for the planet can also be good for business.”

The announcement comes after Apple CEO, Tim Cook, told climate change sceptic investors to ditch their stocks if they do not support his ambition of cutting greenhouse gas emissions and promoting renewable energy.

Cook, who took over the company shortly after Steve Jobs died of cancer in October 2011, was speaking at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in March in response to enquiries as to whether investing in renewable energy is profitable.

Apple has been recently hailed by environmental commentators and green campaigners for its efforts to improve its sustainability credentials, particularly in relation to renewable energy generation and use at its sites.