Apple will use 100 percent recycled cobalt in batteries by 2025 (apple.com)

Article summary

Apple has announced a goal to use 100 percent recycled cobalt in its batteries by 2025, as part of its efforts to increase the use of recycled materials in its products. The company also aims to use entirely recycled rare earth elements in magnets and 100 percent recycled tin soldering and gold plating in printed circuit boards by 2025. Apple has been expanding its use of recycled materials in recent years, with over two-thirds of its aluminum, nearly three-quarters of its rare earth elements, and more than 95 percent of its tungsten coming from recycled sources. This move is part of Apple's broader goal to make its products more sustainable and reduce its environmental impact.

Main themes

• sustainable materials
• cobalt mining
• recycling
• environmental impact
• corporate social responsibility
• supply chain transparency

What commenters say

• Using 100 percent recycled cobalt in batteries will significantly reduce the demand for newly mined cobalt and help mitigate the environmental and social issues associated with cobalt mining.
• The impact of Apple's commitment to using recycled cobalt will be limited, as the company's battery usage is a small fraction of global cobalt demand, which is largely driven by the electric vehicle industry.
• Increasing the use of recycled cobalt will drive up the level of cobalt recycling and reduce the amount of cobalt mining, but it is not a complete solution to the problem of cobalt mining.
• Apple's announcement is seen as a form of greenwashing, as the company is not addressing the root causes of the environmental and social issues associated with cobalt mining, but rather just offsetting its own usage with recycled materials.
• The use of recycled cobalt will not completely eliminate the need for newly mined cobalt, as the global demand for cobalt is still increasing, and Apple's commitment only applies to its own products.
• Other companies, particularly in the electric vehicle industry, need to follow Apple's lead and increase their use of recycled materials in order to make a significant impact on reducing the demand for newly mined cobalt.
• The announcement highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the supply chain, particularly with regards to the use of conflict minerals like cobalt.
• Recycling cobalt and other materials is a crucial step towards reducing electronic waste and mitigating the environmental impacts of the tech industry, but it requires a concerted effort from companies, governments, and consumers to make a significant difference.