Apple M4 Release Charting Progress Towards Sustainability Goals

By Stephen Russell

TechInsights’ analysis of the iPad Pro featuring Apple’s M4 processor classified the chip as “instantly putting it at the top of the computing industry for on-device AI” and that “Apple has captured the attention of the industry in a way other companies' envy.” Apple’s release announcement highlights several developments from a sustainability perspective, reiterating the aim to be ”carbon neutral across the entire manufacturing supply chain and life cycle of every product by 2030.”

We see significant progress towards Apple’s own sustainability goals with more to look forward to over the next year, particularly the promise to use recycled cobalt in batteries across Apple’s entire product range by 2025. Unlike Apple's last major product launch, which highlighted the Apple Watch Series 9 as being carbon neutral, the iPad Pro announcement does not mention carbon neutrality. This omission may indicate that Apple is facing challenges in achieving its goal of full carbon neutrality by 2030.