Apple is one of the technology companies that has started to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly products. Including the latest iPhone SE made with eco-friendly aluminum.
Apple says the iPhone SE 2022 is the first product made of low-carbon aluminum to be produced commercially. This special aluminum is produced by Elysis which uses a carbon-free, hydropower-based smelting process, so that the emissions released are oxygen and not greenhouse gases.
Apple didn't say how many iPhone SE units will use this aluminum. As is known, the iPhone SE 2022 uses an aluminum frame, but the back uses glass to support wireless charging and signal reception.
The company made by Steve Jobs also did not reveal whether this material will only be used in the iPhone SE 2022, or whether it will be carried over to other iPhone variants.
Development of this material involved investment from several parties, including Apple, Alcoa, Rio Tinto, and the Canadian government. Apple also often disburses funds to projects like this through 'Green Bonds' with a total value of USD 4.7 billion.
Investments started in 2016 focused on reducing emissions and providing environmentally friendly energy. Funds raised from 2019 bonds to help develop environmentally friendly aluminum by Elysis, as part of 50 projects also supported by the fund.
"Apple is committed to leaving the planet better than we found it, and our Green Bonds are a key tool to drive our green efforts forward," said Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives. Independent, Sunday (27/3/2022).
"Our investment advances the breakthrough technology needed to reduce the carbon footprint of the materials we use, even as we shift to using only recycled and renewable materials across our products to conserve the Earth's finite resources."
Before using this special aluminum, Apple really prioritized recycled materials. They even have a robot named Daisy who is in charge of dismantling iPhones to retrieve components that can be recycled and used for other devices.
Several other Apple products, including the new iPad and MacBook, already use recycled aluminum for their shells. The move succeeded in reducing Apple's carbon emissions from aluminum production by up to 70%.
Apple itself has set a target to sell carbon neutral products by 2030. Its competitors have begun to follow similar steps, such as Samsung which uses recycled net material in the Galaxy S22 series.