Apple to use 100 per cent recycled cobalt in batteries by 2025

Apple has stated that by 2025, all company-designed batteries will be made entirely of recycled cobalt.

Furthermore, by 2025, all magnets in Apple devices will employ fully recycled rare earth components, and all Apple-designed printed circuit boards will use 100% recycled tin soldering and 100% recycled gold plating.

In 2022, Apple greatly increased its usage of important recycled metals, sourcing more than two-thirds of all aluminium, nearly three-quarters of all rare earths, and more than 95% of all tungsten in Apple products from 100 per cent recycled material.

“Our environmental work is integral to everything we make and who we are, from the recycled materials in our products to the clean energy that powers our operations,” stated Apple CEO Tim Cook.

“So we’ll keep pushing forward with the conviction that great technology should be great for our users and the environment,” he added.

This rapid growth takes Apple closer to its goal of making all goods from recycled and renewable materials one day, and it promotes the company’s 2030 objective of making all products carbon-neutral.

“Our ambition to use 100 per cent recycled and renewable materials in our products one day works hand in hand with Apple 2030: our goal to achieve carbon neutral products by 2030,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives.

In 2022, a quarter of all cobalt detected in Apple goods was recycled, up from 13% the previous year.

Apple-designed batteries used in the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, and a variety of other products account for the vast majority of the company’s cobalt usage.

The company’s utilisation of 100% certified recycled rare earth elements has also increased significantly in the recent year, rising from 45% in 2021 to 73% in 2022.

Apple initially used recycled rare earths in the iPhone 11 Taptic Engine.

According to the firm, as part of the expedited new timeframe, all Apple-designed printed circuit boards will use 100 per cent certified recycled gold plating by 2025.

By 2025, all Apple-designed printed rigid and flexible circuit boards will use 100% certified recycled tin soldering.