Design Life-Cycle

Estefania Gomez 

Abhay Sethi, Trung Vo

DES40A

Professor Cogdell 

MacBook Air with M3 Chip Life Cycle: Raw Materials

Introduction 

Technology is in a constant state of evolution. Apple introduced the MacBook Air with the M3 chip on March 4, 2024. The M3 chip not only drastically improved the MacBook experience, but also underscores Apple’s dedication to environmental progress. While technology advancements often come at the cost of environmental degradation, Apple’s new MacBook Air with the M3 chip stands out for its commitment to sustainability. Apple prioritizes reducing material consumption across all phases of the product life cycle, especially in its raw materials and manufacturing process. By minimizing material usage, the MacBook Air with M3 chip is not only more efficient than previous models but also sets the standard for eco-friendly design. Demonstrating that advanced technology and environmental responsibilities can coexist. 

Raw Materials and Manufacturing 

The MacBook Air with the M3 chip exemplifies sustainable innovation through its careful selection of raw materials. The laptop is composed of various raw materials sourced from around the world. The body of the laptop is typically crafted from aluminum. Apple claims to use 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and trackpad gel palette (Apple). Aluminum is a lightweight and durable metal that is a nonrenewable source. Parts such as the battery tray, keyboard feature plate, and trackpad beam plate are all 90 percent steel. Steel is another nonrenewable source made from Iron. Additionally, 100 percent of Copper and Gold are used in the MagSafe connector and circuit boards (Apple). 15 percent of recycled Glass is used in the display screen and trackpad glass. The laptop still consists of 35 percent recycled plastic. However, Apple plans to eliminate plastic in all of their product packaging by 2025. These raw materials are typically collected through mining from the earth’s crust. The M3 chip itself is primarily made of silicon. Apple is one of the few companies in its industry with the economic capability to spend 26.251 billion, where a significant part was assigned to chip design (Shilov). In its pure form, silicon doesn’t necessarily pose significant environmental risks. However, this process and the production of silicon-based products often involve an energy-intensive process. Silicon is synthesized through quartz or gravel combined with a carbon source and heated in an arc furnace. Before the M1-M3 chip series, Apple used Intel’s PC processor. “Intel processors are based on x86 architecture” (Tarasov). The transition to the M1 chip has significantly improved the performance of the MacBook, making it 11 times faster than the fastest Intel MacBook. The M3 chip builds upon this enhancement, promising even greater performance improvements. Each chip undergoes many testing to ensure its functionality, performance, and quality. These raw materials undergo extensive processing before starting the manufacturing process and building the final product, ensuring the laptop meets quality, performance, and sustainability standards. The manufacturing process also ensures sustainability by selecting sustainable raw materials and reducing waste. Most manufacturing is done in the US, Asia, and Europe. Precise manufacturing locations can vary depending on factors such as sourcing, capacity, and considerations. While the specific details of Apple’s manufacturing process are closely guarded, the manufacturing process involves in-depth steps of fabrication and assembly of parts. The process begins with the initial solid block of aluminum that is then sculpted into the MacBook Air’s enclosure before undergoing polishing and anodizing. The manufacturing process also includes indulging a heat sink and placement of the chips for installation into the MacBook. This entire process is done through a combination of human labor and automated machines, which divides the energy sources among the production process. Companies in the semiconductor industry such as Apple, have announced plans to invest in several facilities which increase domestic manufacturing capacity (Casanova). This announcement can be both positive and negative. On the positive side, there may be a reduction in carbon footprint as this decreases the need for international shipping. On the negative side, an increased manufacturing capacity may lead to higher consumption of resources, energy, raw materials, and e-waste. With higher consumption of energy, distribution, and maintenance should be carefully monitored. 

Distribution and Maintenance 

Apple manages and supports logistics and infrastructure, from global distribution centers to local service providers. Although the laptops are not 100 percent plastic-free, they are 99 percent fiber-based, demonstrating Apple’s efforts to step closer to its goal of removing plastic completely. As for transportation, the product may undergo ground, air, and sea transportation. The transformation of products from the distribution locations is typically determined by the average distance by regional geography (Apple). Apple prioritizes low-carbon emission shipping methods. Apple favors ocean transportation over air transportation due to its significant reduction in carbon emissions (Sustainable Review). Over the years, Apple has managed to reduce the amount of packaging in their products. In doing so, Apple has lowered its distribution chain’s carbon footprint as well as operational costs (Owczarek). In addition to selling its products, Apple provides continuous maintenance and support services, ensuring that customers are satisfied with its products. To minimize e-waste customer dissatisfaction, Apple offers specialized repair services tailored to expand the lifespan of its products. They aim to reduce the frequency of device replacements which later results in overproduction and more e-waste. Their program consists of users sending their devices to Apple via mail where Apple takes care of shipping and other concerns. Customers also have the option to walk into a store and receive the assistance they need. Furthermore, Apple provides a system called Apple Care which is an insurance policy that covers repairs or replacements. These customer support systems not only enhance the users’ experience but also contribute to environmental sustainability by extending the product's lifespan, reducing the need for replacements, and minimizing e-waste. 

Recycling and Waste 

Apple actively manages the recycling and waste generated by the MacBook Air with M3 chip. By prioritizing recycling and reducing waste, the MacBook Air with M3 chip becomes the most sustainable product from Apple. As mentioned previously, Apple has managed to make the laptop from 50 percent recycled material and 100 percent powered by renewable energy sources (Beckett-Hester). Apple is sourcing from post-industrial scrap and post-consumer scrap from end-of-life batteries (Apple Newsroom). This demonstrates the progress and potential that Apple has strived for in meeting its sustainability goals. In terms of global recycling, Apple asks customers to drop off their used Apple devices to any Apple Store location (Apple Newsroom). This ensures that Apple is responsible for the recycling process which is used to recover valuable materials inside of unused products so they can be used in future products. Additionally, Apple is committed to sharing the technology with recycling partners around the world (Apple Newsroom). Although Apple takes these steps to move toward a sustainable future, the recycling process itself can be challenging. The global volume of electronic waste is increasing day by day (Shahidzadeh et al.). Most e-waste recycling methods result in over 1000 different chemicals in the environment. Disassembling electronic devices also poses serious health hazards and environmental risks. Despite the precautions being taken toward the environment, human discrimination in the manufacturing-to-waste process is apparent. During the manufacturing process, workers are often protected and covered from toxic chemicals that may be present, whereas those managing e-waste landfills typically lack such protection. Despite offering improved performance and sustainability, the MacBook Air with the M3 chip also contributes to the endless cycle of e-waste due to its relatively short lifespan of 7-10 years and the current lack of upgradeability. The computer chip industry is recognized as one of the leading contributing factors to e-waste (The Guardian). As mentioned previously, improper disposal leads to environmental pollution and health risks. In 2006, Apple recycled 13 million pounds of e-waste which is equal to 9.5 percent of the weight of all products Apple sold seven years prior (Hanselman and Pegah). Connecting back to the manufacturing process, chips go through multiple rounds of testing to ensure functionality and accuracy. Therefore, defective chips are discarded and turned into recyclable material that can be used for other products or may potentially contribute to e-waste. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Apple’s MacBook Air with the M3 chip exemplifies Apple’s commitment to sustainability. The raw materials used in the MacBook Air with M3 chip are nonrenewable and sustainable materials that can be effectively recycled. Nonetheless, the journey towards sustainability is ongoing and challenges such as e-waste and health security should still be taken into consideration. Furthermore, Apple's emphasis on customer support and repair services contributes to extending the product's lifespan and reducing environmental waste. This strategic approach not only enhances but also establishes a new standard for eco-friendly design. While the MacBook's raw materials may be sourced sustainably, it is essential to not overlook the energy consumption and waste generated during its manufacturing and distribution process. Overall, Apple has made a significant contribution and transition from its previous environmental practices. 

Bibliography 

“Apple Cuts Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Half.” Apple Newsroom, 24 Apr. 2024,

www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/04/apple-cuts-greenhouse-emissions-in-half/.

Hanselman, Scott, and Pegah, Mahmoud. The Wild Wild Waste: e-Waste. Association for   

Computing Machinery. 7 Oct. 2007, https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/1294046.1294083

“The Computer Chip Industry Has a Dirty Climate Secret.” The Guardian, Guardian News

and Media, 18 Sept. 2021, www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/18/semiconductor-silicon-chips-carbon-footprint-climate.

MacBook Air with M3 Chip Product Environmental Report,

www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/notebooks/M3_MacBook_Air_PER_March2024.pdf. Accessed 2 May 2024.

Owczarek, Aleksandra. “Apple’s Distribution Chain The Real Winner Of Less iPhone 12 

Packaging.” Packhelp. 18 Nov. 2022, https://packhelp.com/apple-packaging/

Ravi, Sarah. “The Chips Act Has Already Sparked $300 Billion in Private Investments for

U.S. Semiconductor Production.” Semiconductor Industry Association, 26 Apr. 2024, www.semiconductors.org/the-chips-act-has-already-sparked-200-billion-in-private-investments-for-u-s-semiconductor-production/.

Shahidzadeh, Mohammad, et al. “Unscramble social media power for waste management: A multilayer deep learning approach” Elsevier. 27 Sep. 2022, 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652622039221

Shilov, Anton. “Apple Spent $1 Billion to Tape out New M3 Processors: Analyst.” Tom’s

Hardware, Tom’s Hardware, 3 Nov. 2023, www.tomshardware.com/software/macos/apple-spent-dollar1-billion-to-tape-out-new-m3-processors-analyst.

Sustainable Review, 13 Mar. 2024, sustainablereview.com/green-appeal-the-sustainability-behind-our-ongoing-affinity-for-apple-products/. 

Tarasov, Katie. “Inside Apple’s Chip Lab, Home to the Most ‘profound Change’ at the

Company in Decades.” CNBC, CNBC, 1 Dec. 2023, www.cnbc.com/2023/12/01/how-apple-makes-its-own-chips-for-iphone-and-mac-edging-out-intel.html. 

Abhayjeet Singh Sethi

Trung Vo, Estefania Gomez

DES 40A

Professor Cogdell

Energy in the Macbook Air M3

The Apple Macbook Air M3 is a versatile notebook computer and it is getting more and more common especially among college students, and it probably makes you wonder about the energy going into making the device and how much energy it outputs. The Macbook Air M3 excels in all stages of the Life Cycle. The Macbook Air M3 contains recycled materials, it uses clean electricity for manufacturing, transport is less carbon intensive, some computers are re-used through Apple Trade In, minimizes carbon emissions from when in use, and lastly the final assembly supplier site for this Macbook generated zero waste that was sent to a landfill. For these reasons, and many more the Macbook Air M3 is highly efficient in all aspects in terms of energy.

Apple believes in recycling every material they use for all of their devices, including their entire MacBook lineup. Using only recycled and renewable materials, according to Apple itself, they have driven major reductions in the carbon footprint of the company. According to Apple Newsroom Greenhouse emission website, in 2023, 56% of the cobalt, material present in the batteries of all apple products, came from recycled sources. [1] This includes the MacBook Air M3, which is made from 50% of recycled material. Also by recycling material for lithium and copper, Apple’s progress shows how all of their products, including the MacBook Air M3, come from a large portion of recycled material, which is highly efficient. The mastermind behind the MacBook Air M3 is the M3 chip. Semiconductors like the M3 chip have been gaining a lot of attention now that technology has been changing, and it is interesting to note how much energy is also being invested.

In the spring of 2020, the CHIPS Act was introduced, which contributed a great deal to semiconductor production. After the CHIPS Act was enacted, companies in the semiconductor industry announced their own project that will increase manufacturing capacity. According to semiconductors.org, the Chips Act was planning on funding for such projects. [2] However, the biggest thing coming from the CHIPS Act is the amount of energy being invested. One of the other announcements by the Act included 83 new semiconductor ecosystem projects, which include the constricting of new facilities, expansions of existing sites, and facilities that supply the necessary materials for chip manufacturing. Although Robert Casanova from semiconductors.com did not disclose information about how much energy exactly is going into making the new facilities, it does seem like a lot of energy is going into making semiconductors. This is clearly a good thing, because it means that a lot more is being invested into technology, but it is also a bad thing since a lot of energy is being used to build the new facilities and also to create the semiconductors themselves. However, as stated by Apple before, they use recycled materials when creating the MacBook Air M3, in an effort to completely reduce their carbon footprint/emissions. Apple’s MacBook Air has a reduced carbon footprint, and surprisingly Apple computers score high on energy efficient Rankings.

Back in 2009, Apple scored high on energy efficient computer rankings, and since then they have only gotten more and more efficient. According to greenbiz.com, across the three categories tested, laptops, desktops, and all-in-ones, Apple scores at or near the top of the list for most efficient laptop. [5] Back then, Apple MacBook Air scored the highest energy efficiency, using only 1.07 watts of power when in sleep mode and just .56W when turned off. You can imagine how these numbers must be now, when Apple has gone through much more innovation and efficiency with their products. Looking back at old data after understanding what level Apple is at now, you can only imagine that if Apple was scoring high efficiency then, it must be excelling now. The main mode of efficiency from Apple comes right from the source, the raw materials. Apple is very selective on the acquisition and uses of raw materials that go into their products, like the Apple Macbook Air M3.

With efficiency in mind, Apple strives to make sure that the materials go into their products are the best they could be. According to Apple’s Environment website, or their plans for 2030, Apple focuses on recycled and renewable materials for all of their products. [4] The casing of the macbook is made with 100% recycled aluminum which is a material that can be recycled repeatedly. According to Apple’s report on the Macbook Air M3, Apple is committed to the responsible sourcing of primary materials. [6] Apple is recognized as a worldwide leader in the responsible sourcing of minerals in their products, and they even map some of their materials right to the mineral source. You can very much tell that Apple is dedicated to making sure their materials are used in the most responsible way. Raw materials going into the Macbook Air M3 include aluminum, plastic, tin, rare earth elements, copper, gold, steel, glass, and cobalt. Apple uses 100% recycled aluminum. In 10 components of the laptop, Apple uses 35% or more of recycled plastic. They also use 100% recycled tin. In the device, 99% of the total rare earth metals are represented, using 100% recycled rare earth metals. Apple uses 100% of recycled copper in different components of the laptop, as well as 100% recycled gold. Lastly, Apple uses 90% recycled steel, 15% recycled glass, and 100% recycled cobalt. Apple indeed pays a good amount of attention and focuses on the big components of what makes Apple, Apple. Just like being very responsible for what raw materials they are using and their acquisition, Apple makes sure that their manufacturing, processing and formation is as efficient and effective as well.

Apple’s supply chain is known to be quite large, effective, and efficient. How Apple produces their products is just another important factor contributing as to why their products like the Macbook Air M3 are efficient. According to Apple’s supply chain innovation website, all apple products are designed in California, but are manufactured, processed, and formed, all over the world. [11] Apple’s application chain includes thousands of businesses, millions of people, and over 50 countries and regions, which tells you how much is going into the manufacturing, processing and formation of the Macbook Air M3. Everyone involved in the supply chain all contribute their skills, tallents, and efforts to build, deliver, repair, and recycle Apple products. The website further states that Apple plans to make theri supply chain carbon neutral by 2030, and one of the ways they will do that is by transitioning the entire supply chain to 100% renewable energy. Since 2020, Apple’s worldwide corporate operations have been carbon neutral, but now it is time for the whole entire supply chain to be carbon neutral. By 2030, 100% of Apple's suppliers are expected to be carbon neutral for their production. Also, 16 gigawatts of renewable energy is operational in the Apple supply chain, which is a substantial amount. At the end of the supply chain, is always waste and waste management. Apple has innovated efficient and clever ways to deal with their electronic waste from their products like the Macbook Air M3. 

Waste management is very important in the world we are living in today. Most of the waste on planet earth comes from electronics. However, Apple strives to make sure that there is little waste coming from all of their products, of course including the Macbook Air M3.  The Sustainable Review states that amidst the escaping e-waste problem, many companies are trying to tackle the issue by incorporating sustainability throughout the entire product life cycle. [9] A key example of this initiative is Apple. The website further states that Apple has been a leader in sustainability for a long time, and since 2015, the company has been taking steps to decrease carbon footprint and use renewable energy sources instead of other sources. To become carbon neutral some strategies by Apple include, using more renewable energy, creating a green supply chain, and improving their product innovation, materials, packaging, and transportation. From this, it is clear that Apple has been and continues to work on the e-waste problem, and is making sure that they are eliminating and managing their waste for the betterment of the world. A sector that is often overlooked when talking about e-waste emissions or rather emissions in the entire life cycle of an electronic device, is distribution and transportation. As expected, Apple has that covered too. According to the Sustainable Review, Apple tackles the environmental impact of transporting its products, and prioritizes low-carbon shipping modes as a critical strategy. Apple recognizes the difference in carbon emissions between different transportation forms, and the company is now trying to adopt ocean freight rather than over air distribution/transportation. This is because over air uses much more energy and releases many emissions. The shift in the type of transportation can significantly reduce emissions “...by as much as 1/20th of those associated with air shipping”. Apple not only has devised ideas and strategies for tackling waste and waste management, but for the emissions that come from distribution and transportation of all Apple products as well. However, the story doesn’t end right there. Using the Macbook Air M3, re-use, and maintenance are still other key factors that take in energy

The energy that goes into the use, re-use, and maintenance of the Macbook Air M3 is quite efficient. According to Apple's environmental report on the Macbook Air M3, the renewable energy that is used to build the laptop is maintained. The types of energy include wind and solar farms. The report also states that the Macbook Air M3 uses 66% less energy than the requirement sent by Energy Star. Energy start is a program by the U.S environmental protection agency and department of energy. It promotes energy efficiency. Apple designs products to be “...energy efficient, long-lasting, and safe.” The maintenance  aspect for the device is good as well, as there are regular software updates to keep devices up to date, and authorized repair professionals to service them. As the report also states, through Apple Trade it, Apple ensures that when customers return their product, they will ensure it will have a long life, or recycle it. This limits the amount of waste going to landfills. As Apple states, when products are used longer, it requires fewer resources to be extracted from earth. So that is why they are pushing for recycling or allowing your product to have a long life when you return it. When you look at computer chips in general, you can start to see that more and more chips are becoming like Apple’s chips, in terms of their use and efficiency, and more companies are trying to improve their own chips. According to an academic journal titled “Energy Efficiency and Reliability of Computer Vision Applications on Heterogeneous Multiprocessor Systems-on-Chips (MPSoCs)”, the chips that are used in Samsung products offer enhanced performance and energy efficiency. [3] However, they do face challenges in efficiently running concurrent computer applications. There is research addressing these challenges and to balance energy efficiency, performance and make the device run for a long time. From this, it tells us that Apple is really effective in making chips/products that can do these things minus a couple of the drawbacks. However, it is amazing to see how other chip making companies are trying to step up their game and try to match Apple, by making overall energy efficient chips for usage. 

Apple’s M3 chip for the Macbook Air M3 is the main component of the device, and it is one of the main reasons why the device is efficient. According to notebookcheck.net, the M3 chip has the same basic core configurations as the M1 and M2 chips but the clock speeds, or the speed at which the CPU executes information, are higher. [7] The website further explains that Apple was able to improve the processor performance by about 20%. So with the addition of the M3 chips in Apple’s laptop like the Macbook Air, it significantly increased the performance as well as the efficiency,  in which the laptop ran when in use, further reinstating the fact that the Macbook Air M3 is energy efficient, and performance efficient in terms of the usage. Also, according to the Energy Star, The Macbook Air M3 is considered to be a highly energy efficient device, in terms of many categories. [8] Categories evaluated included, off mode, sleep mode, long idle, short idle, and more. The amount of energy consumed in each of these categories was evaluated, and Energy Star classified the Macbook Air M3 as a Energy star certified product.For a product to become Energy Star certified, it must meet a strict energy criteria which is set by US Environmental Protection Agency, or the US Department of Energy. Although it is important to recognize how efficient the Macbook Air M3 is for usage energy wise, it is also important to look at what/how much money is going into making such energy efficient chips. According to tomshardware.com, Apple has spent $1 Billion to create the new M3 processors for their laptop line up. [10] That is a very drastic number, and only a few companies can afford a platform like that. That’s why Apple is considered to be at the very top for production of energy efficient technology. So, the amount of money Apple spends on these highly efficient chips is all worth it, because in the end, consumers are getting more energy efficiency laptops, with greater performance efficiency. 

To conclude, Apple has been highly efficient in multiple aspects. Whether it is through recycling their materials, or just being efficient in energy use in general, Apple has been proven to be an efficient technology company, especially with their MacBook Air M3. Although semiconductors like the M3 chip require a lot of energy and money,  it has been proven that Apple is working towards reducing their carbon footprint, and has been and will continue to create performance and energy efficient laptops. 

Bibliography

[1] Apple Cuts Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Half, Apple Newsroom, www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/04/apple-cuts-greenhouse-emissions-in-half/. Accessed 2 May 2024. 

[2] Casanova, Robert Casanova. “The Chips Act Has Already Sparked $300 Billion in Private Investments for U.S. Semiconductor Production.” Semiconductor Industry Association, 14 Dec. 2022, www.semiconductors.org/the-chips-act-has-already-sparked-200-billion-in-private-investments-for-u-s-semiconductor-production/. 

[3] Dey, Somdip, et al. Energy Efficiency and Reliability of Computer Vision Applications on Heterogeneous Multi-Processor Systems-on-Chips (MPSoCs), 2018. 

[4] “Environment.” Apple 2030: A Plan as Innovative as Our Products., Apple, 2024, www.apple.com/environment/. 

[5] GreenerComputing Staff. “Apple Scores High on Energy-Efficient Computer Rankings.” Apple Scores High on Energy-Efficient Computer Rankings, GreenBiz, 1 Dec. 2009, www.greenbiz.com/article/apple-scores-high-energy-efficient-computer-rankings. 

[6] “MacBook Air with M3 Chip Product Environmental Report.” Product Environmental Report - MacBook Air with M3 Chip, Apple, 4 Mar. 2024, www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/notebooks/M3_MacBook_Air_PER_March2024.pdf. 

[7] Osthoff, Andreas. “Apple M3 SOC Analyzed: Increased Performance and Improved Efficiency.” Apple M3 SoC Analyzed: Increased Performance and Improved Efficiency, Notebookcheck, 12 Nov. 2023, www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-M3-SoC-analyzed-Increased-performance-and-improved-efficiency.766789.0.html#:~:text=Compared%20to%20the%20old%20M1,compared%20to%20the%20old%20M2. 

[8] “Product Finder - Energy Star Certified Computers.” ENERGY STAR Certified Computers | EPA ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov/productfinder/product/certified-computers/details/3417974. Accessed 2 May 2024. 

[9] SeventhQueen, Sustainable Review. “Green Appeal: The Sustainability behind Our Ongoing Affinity for Apple Products.” Sustainable Review, Sustainable Review, 12 Sept. 2023, sustainablereview.com/green-appeal-the-sustainability-behind-our-ongoing-affinity-for-apple-products/. 

[10] Shilov, Anton. “Apple Spent $1 Billion to Tape out New M3 Processors: Analyst.” Tom’s Hardware, Tom’s Hardware, 3 Nov. 2023, www.tomshardware.com/software/macos/apple-spent-dollar1-billion-to-tape-out-new-m3-processors-analyst. 

[11] “Supply Chain Innovation.” Apple, www.apple.com/supply-chain/. Accessed 2 May 2024. 

Trung Vo

Abhay Sethi, Estefania Gomez

Professor Cogdell

DES 40A

24 May 2024

MacBook Air M3’s Life Cycle: Waste & Emissions

In 2008, the late Steve Jobs revolutionized the laptop industry with a premium chassis laptop called the Macbook Air. The name “air” signified the understanding of how thin the laptop was, weighing at least three pounds of weight (1) But, really, how much waste and emissions were produced in creating such an elegant laptop? With continuous research, there is more than what meets the eye. Apple constantly produces many new innovative laptops in their MacBook lineup and advocates for a carbon-neutral stance. Apple’s transparency in reporting waste and its commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices highlight the complexities and challenges of producing an environmentally friendly product. 

Raw Materials and Manufacturing 

With the debut of the new MacBook Air M3, Apple remains committed to advocating for a greener environment by reducing its carbon footprint using recycled materials from its e-waste campaign materials. The company claims that the MacBook Air M3 is Apple’s first product to use 50% recycled content. (6) As Apple maximizes its recycling material usage from its trade-in campaign, the MacBook Air M3 uses 100% recycled Aluminum to create its chassis, 35% recycled plastic for components, and most importantly 100% recycled cobalt for the battery. Additionally, Apple employs hydroelectricity to smelt its recycled aluminum to reduce energy emissions. Yet, finding these rare earth elements to manufacture sophisticated hardware requires intensive labor. This process involves environmental degradation. Mining operations are necessary to obtain these rare elements, that result in extensive waste production and raise ethical concerns.  Before, Apple’s Ethical work concerns were rising in third-world countries, as labor conditions in mining rigs are rigorous or exploitative. (14) 

The production of the MacBook Air M3 still contributes to greenhouse gas emissions regardless of the recycled material formulation. The MacBook Air M3’s production requires 75% of the total carbon footprint that is emitted in production, approximately 135kg COe is produced to create this thin laptop.  Previously, Apple’s carbon footprint was reduced from 283kg to 158kg, a significant 61% reduction in its MacBook Air manufacturing. (6) Additionally, Apple’s efforts in using recycled materials have led to a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2015, an outstanding achievement that few companies can complete in an eight-year period. Furthermore, Apple is investing in renewable energy projects and improving its energy efficiency in its supply chain. The company has been transitioning its entire stationery production to 100% renewable energy to avoid conflicting with its goal to become 75% carbon neutral (8) Although Apple has been improving its manufacturing practices and reducing its carbon footprint, distributing products and having yearly software updates as a global company is a challenge.

Distribution and Maintenance

After manufacturing the Macbook Air, the next challenge must be global distribution which adds another lay of environmental impact. Apple has promised to use less-intensive transportation to distribute its content by using rail or ocean transportation instead of using air (6) which emits 2.5% of the global CO2 emission while aviation. (16)  Apple has designed its product packaging, reducing paper production and component reduction. Instead of using plastic wrapping, Apple has approached a greener alternative using recycled materials (paper, etc.). It has been concluded that 93% of Apple’s packaging is now fiber-based after converting their usage of plastic wrapping  (15) The company claims that eliminating plastic increases their recycled content and using less packaging can ensure a green world. Most of their recycled paper content is all wood fiber responsibly managed from 100% virgin wood forests.

The MacBook Air’s maintenance plays a critical role in its environmental impact, with constant software updates and its durable design, it can extend the hardware’s lifespan, reducing the continuous replacement thus reducing the carbon footprint. Nevertheless, Apple is very selective with their repair services as each repair center must be an Apple License, as Apple is against using third-party components. (10)  This can vastly affect Apple’s sustainability by reducing electronic repair and requiring people to purchase their latest model whenever the consumer needs to repair their hardware. Recently, Apple has allowed enhancements to use third-party components to repair their selective products, mainly the iPhones, not MacBooks, (4) Notably, Apple’s M chipsets have improved effectiveness and energy consumption. Nonetheless, Apple may have underestimated its progress in rapidly releasing new silicon chips. Despite their release frequency, the latest M chipsets do not substantially upgrade processing power. For a task such as; rendering, graphical production; and intensive work performance, the differences between the M3 and M1 are minimal. (17) As a result, upgrading to a MacBook with the latest M chipset may not be worthwhile for users who own the M1. 

Recycling and Waste 

While recycling is a critical section of managing electronic waste, not many people practice recycling, which represents a challenge to our environment. Apple’s recycling program aims to recover all electronic waste to disassemble and reuse for its products such as; batteries; aluminum; silicon; etc, but the program’s efficiency varies. In 2023, Apple recycled 40,000 metric tons of CO2E emissions (2)  Every electronic device contains gold, silica, and other rare elements. Apple may have been profiting from its campaign. Over 600,000 Apple products have been shredded and valued at $28 billion worth of metals from recycling (7). While recycling is a good cause for our environment, shredding these electronics can generate a hazardous byproduct that must be disposed of and managed carefully. Apple’s recycling program has improved the recycling process in recent years and incentivized consumers to recycle their electronics in return for a trade-in or cash value to benefit our environment. As Apple’s goal may seem like a stretch, they have succeeded in using 100% recycled content within their products without using intensive mining labor. (18)  

Despite the efforts in recycling, the generational waste of electronics continues which raises concerns. People who are unknowledgeable about recycling may improperly dispose of these laptops, which may lead to environmental and health hazards, such as toxic substances like mercury in our agriculture. (9) The UN has stated that 50 million metric tonnes of e-waste were produced in 2019 alone, with only 20% of electronic being recycled. Apple is valued at 2 trillion dollars, its product slightly contributes to this e-waste volume. Apple has taken the step forward to address this issue, by implementing aggressive efforts to become a carbon-neutral company and stricter waste disposal regulations. Apple has redesigned the package of its products by removing power bricks in its iPhone lineup to eliminate product circulation, assuming that consumers already have them. Since this is an environmental movement from Apple, it may seem like a strategy to capitalize on consumers to purchase additional peripherals for its product.  (11) Between 2017 and 2021, Apple has generated 52,490 tonnes of waste, marking an increase of 14.9% over 2020. Despite this, Apple has reduced its hazardous waste by 13% generating 1,599 tonnes of disposal (12) 

In conclusion,  Apple’s transparency in waste reporting and dedication to sustainable manufacturing has a balance between challenges and environmental responsibility. Overall, Apple has become a monopoly instead of the innovative company they once were. With the tremendous amount of pollutants in electronic waste that consumers have discarded in the environment, we’re paying for it. Nevertheless, Apple’s campaign to incentivize consumers to trade their electronic waste for a reward is a win-win situation. The company has made a significant change in its carbon footprint by reducing the environmental impact of the new Macbook Air M3. As Apple is committed to using recycled materials, implementing renewable energy, and reducing carbon emissions is a step further than most companies. However, the environmental cost of these recycled materials associated with raw material extraction, manufacturing, and global distribution may not be ignored. With Apple’s ambitious goal to become 75% carbon-neutral by 2030 and transparency, it is truly an improvement in Apple’s sustainability goals.

Work Cited

(1) Ackerman, Dan. “Read Our 10-Year-Old Review of the First-Ever Apple MacBook Air.” CNET, 17 Jan. 2018, www.cnet.com/reviews/apple-macbook-air-review/.

(2) Apple. “Environment.” Apple, www.apple.com/environment/. Accessed 4 June 2024.

(3) Apple Newsroom. “Apple Cuts Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Half.” Apple Newsroom, 24 Apr. 2024, www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/04/apple-cuts-greenhouse-emissions-in-half/.

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