Implementing environmentally sound practices.
Suppliers who do business with Apple know they must uphold our strict environmental
standards — often above what local law requires — when it comes to managing hazardous
waste, wastewater, stormwater, boundary noise, and air emissions.
During their factory inspections, our auditors review permits and equipment, and take samples
to make sure suppliers are protecting the environment. When auditors find untreated waste air or
wastewater leaving a facility, they shut down the offending processes or even whole production
lines until the problem is fixed. Apple also assesses a supplier’s environmental risks through
surveys and by partnering with NGOs and groups like the Institute of Public and Environmental
Affairs (IPE). IPE maintains an air and water pollution database to hold corporations in China
accountable for environmental violations. Apple has partnered with IPE to systematically review
and assess all supplier violations appearing in its database.
In 2014, we searched the database for environmental findings related to our top 200 suppliers,
covering more than 400 locations in China. And we identified 30 sites with 49 violations. We had
already been addressing some of these violations, but others were new to us. By working closely
with our suppliers and IPE, we moved quickly to resolve these violations and develop action
plans to address the issues. In 2014, 35 sites worked with IPE to remediate 59 violations and had
their records closed through the IPE process. We’ll continue to search the database to identify
and fix violations.
Apple wants to make sure that suppliers — at home and around the globe — use
environmentally responsible manufacturing processes. So we help them make their facilities
more energy and water efficient, and implement targeted programs that conserve the planet’s
precious resources.
Our planet’s natural resources must be protected for
future generations.
Environment Highlights from our 2015 Report
Expanded the Clean Water Program to cover 50 percent of total water withdrawal for our
top 200 suppliers.
Helped 13 suppliers save half a billion gallons of freshwater.
Enrolled more than 392 participants in the EHS Academy, now covering nearly 900,000
workers.
Apple ranked number one
on the top 10 Electronic
brands in the report by IPE.
Apple and the Environment.
Learn more about Apple and
our ongoing commitment to
the environment
Auditors conduct wastewater testing at a PC board factory in Kunshan, China.
Apple Supplier Responsibility 2015 Progress Report 27
Accountability | Empowering Workers | Labor & Human Rights | Health & Safety | Environment | Audit Results
Educating managers to resolve workplace issues.
To further drive compliance, we also survey our top 200 suppliers annually on topics such as
water usage, air emissions, and waste management. We use the data to determine risks and build
targeted training, tools, and programs to further minimize our suppliers’ environmental impact.
In 2013 Apple partnered with Nanjing University, Sun Yat-sen University, and the Institute for
Sustainable Communities to launch our Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) Academy to
address the global issue of underqualified EHS professionals. Our Academy is one of the most
comprehensive EHS training and education programs in the industry, helping midlevel managers
in our global supply chains improve their skills so they can address and proactively solve issues
in their workplace. The 18-month, 19-course program requires participants to complete real-time
projects in their facilities. So far, participants have launched over 870 environment, health, and
safety projects.
In 2014, 392 more workers enrolled in the EHS Academy (now totaling over 632 enrolled),
covering more than 216 supplier sites. The first group of participants graduated in 2014. These
newly trained EHS managers are now equipped with the skills to proactively identify and
remediate EHS risks in their facilities.