Apple has joined the global renewable energy initiative RE100, reaffirming its commitment to reaching 100% renewable energy worldwide and pledging to work with the initiative to drive clean energy into the manufacturing supply chain. RE100 is a collaborative, global initiative of influential businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity, working to massively increase demand for – and delivery of – renewable energy.
Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president for Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, announced the membership today during remarks at Climate Week in New York City, and shared additional progress the company is making toward its clean energy goals.
“Apple is committed to running on 100 percent renewable energy, and we’re happy to stand beside other companies that are working toward the same effort,” she said. “We’re excited to share the industry-leading work we’ve been doing to drive renewable energy into the manufacturing supply chain, and look forward to partnering with RE100 to advocate for clean-energy policies around the world.”
Apple is already powering its operations in the US, China and 21 other countries with 100% renewable energy. In 2015, it powered 93% of its operations around the world with renewable energy.
On the heels of Apple supplier Lens Technology’s clean energy commitment announced last month, Solvay Specialty Polymers, which supplies Apple with antenna bands for iPhone, also made a new commitment, pledging 100% renewable energy for all Apple production. This covers 14 manufacturing facilities across eight countries by the end of 2018.
Catcher Technology, one of Apple’s largest aluminum enclosure suppliers, also is targeting 100 percent renewable power for its production of Apple goods by the end of 2018, leading to an emission reduction of nearly 600,000 metric tons a year. Altogether, Apple suppliers’ commitments to-date will represent over 1.5 billion kilowatt hours per year of clean energy used in the manufacturing of Apple products by the end of 2018, equal to the amount of electricity consumed by over one million Chinese homes.
