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Tim Cook discusses Apple’s environmental effort in new “Better” video

 

Apple environmental site

As Apple continues to acknowledge Earth Day, it has released a new video narrated by Apple CEO Tim Cook himself entitled “Better” describing its environmental efforts as a company. An updated microsite profiling Apple’s environmental responsibilities is available as well. While the site focuses on renewable energy and Apple’s carbon footprint, it also features a video discussing Apple’s upcoming Campus 2 building. That particular video features Steve Jobs referencing Campus 2 as “the best office building in the world.” Designer Norman Foster and Lisa Jackson, Apple’s VP of Environmental Initiatives, also speak in the video. View the video featuring Tim Cook below…

From Apple: “At Apple, we strive to reduce our impact on climate change, find ways to use greener materials and conserve resources for future generations. This video was shot on location at Apple Facilities. Now more than ever, we will work to leave the world better than we found it.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdeVaT-zZt4]

Apple also gave Wired an interview with former EPA administrator Lisa Jackson, who has served over Apple’s environmental efforts at the company since last June. Apple will celebrate Earth Day tomorrow, April 22nd, the company has said. Earlier this year, Greenpeace acknowledged Apple’s energy initiative as it ranked the company highly on its green internet report card.

As part of her role as VP of Environmental Initiatives, Lisa Jackson has published a letter featured on the updated site discussing Apple’s products and the environment:

APRIL 2014: A letter from Lisa Jackson.At Apple, we believe innovation is about making things better. This simple idea drives us to take action in the face of the very real problem of climate change. We feel the responsibility to consider everything we do in order to reduce our impact on the environment. This means using greener materials and constantly inventing new ways to conserve precious resources.

We aim to create not just the best products in the world, but the best products for the world. We have a long way to go, but we are proud of our progress. For example, every one of our data centers is powered entirely by clean sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy. So whenever you download a song, update an app, or ask Siri a question, the energy Apple uses is provided by nature.

Of course, the cleanest energy is the energy you never use. That’s why we’ve reduced the average total power consumed by Apple products by 57 percent since 2008. And each one of our products far exceeds the strict energy efficiency guidelines set by ENERGY STAR.

We’ve led the industry in removing many harmful toxins from our products, such as PVC, brominated flame retardants, and phthalates. And we’ve recycled more than 421 million pounds of electronic waste. In fact, every Apple Retail Store will now take back Apple products for free and recycle them responsibly. We believe we must be accountable for every Apple product at every stage of its use.

“Better” means we’re never done. We push ourselves every day to develop innovations that reduce our carbon footprint, use cleaner and safer materials, and show that what’s good for the planet can also be good for business. At Apple, we continue to put nature at the center of our business and design principles. We promise to keep you updated on our journey.

Sincerely,

Lisa Jackson

Vice President of Environmental Initiatives

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Comments

  1. 0:23 is the new iPhone 6 screen?

  2. Alex (@AlexZeFrench) - 10 years ago

    That makes me happy !

  3. This “denier”, approves this message.

    Was very cool to see so many bloom-boxes at 0:48.

  4. Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 10 years ago

    wow, some really nice footage in their.

    • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 10 years ago

      *”there” not “their.”

      • Alan Aurmont - 10 years ago

        Do you feel better after correcting him? Is your self-esteem higher now? Why do you assume English is his first language?

      • Zach Grace - 10 years ago

        He corrected himself?

      • rahhbriley - 10 years ago

        This right here. Foot in mouth disease at its finest. Thanks for the smiles.

        **Side note, if we could still edit our comments, this could have been prevented. But then again, it wouldn’t have brought this mid day smile to my face :)

  5. Alan Aurmont - 10 years ago

    Better, it’s a powerful bird.

  6. Keven Lou - 10 years ago

    Apple is complete BULL! One major thing they can do to help “reduce waste” is make their next phone MICRO USB COMPATIBLE! That way we don’t have to keep throwing away their dam chargers. Their 30 pin then their lightning… If they really cared they would switch over to really reduce waste, instead of trying to make their products unique and urge customers to buy their type of connectors. ALL the other companies have converted why not apple the company trying to be Eco Friendly?

    • rahhbriley - 10 years ago

      You’re 30 pin abandonment argument is garbage. NO OTHER mobile devices manufacturer has kept a charging dock/cable standard round as long as Apple kept 30 pin around. 2001 to 2012? Lighting will be around for a long time too. They didn’t make the decision lightly or do it to get more people “to buy their type of connectors” (which I think is a poorly framed argument, what does that really mean?). They surely don’t make that much based on connectors and or adapters….It was done for a variety of reason, a good deal of them discussed in Israel Molina’s link. You’d likely b*tch about the thickness of the phone compared to others’ if they hadn’t. It was keeping the phone from getting smaller, had out dated and no longer used technology, and had many extra benefits.

  7. Ted Elhajj - 10 years ago

    Really apple is so concerned about the environment yet they have their manufacturing plants in China which is the worst offender on earth…This is hypocritical on so many levels…Tim Cook should run for president he has all of the qualifications and Lisa Jackson secretary of state

  8. The Dreamer - 9 years ago

    An analysis on the environmental impact of the iPhone 6 & Galaxy S5: http://wp.me/p54ZMK-2

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.