Apple Hits Record 30% Recycled Materials in Products, Reaches Plastic-Free Packaging Milestone

Apple has reached a significant milestone in its sustainability efforts, announcing that 30 percent of the materials in all products shipped last year came from recycled content. The achievement, detailed in the company's 2026 Environmental Progress Report, marks a new record for the tech giant as it works toward its "Apple 2030" goal of becoming carbon neutral across its entire footprint.



The shift toward recycled materials is now present in several core components across the product lineup. Apple confirmed that 100 percent of the cobalt used in its batteries and 100 percent of the rare earth elements in its magnets are now sourced from recycled materials. Additionally, all Apple-designed printed circuit boards currently utilize 100 percent recycled gold plating and tin soldering. Apple's greenhouse gas emissions remain down over 60 percent compared to 2015 levels.


Packaging has also seen a total transition, with Apple officially fulfilling its pledge to remove plastic from its boxes by 2025. Every product now ships in 100 percent fiber-based packaging. To make disposal easier, even the largest boxes, such as those for the Studio Display XDR, have been designed to collapse into smaller pieces that fit into standard home recycling bins.



The report specifically highlights the MacBook Neo as the company's lowest-carbon laptop to date. Launched earlier this year, the device features 60 percent recycled content. As previously detailed by Apple's design team, the manufacturing process for the Neo's aluminum enclosure uses a material-efficient forming technique that requires half the raw material of traditional machining. The production of the Neo also uses a new closed-loop anodization process that recirculates 70 percent of the water used.

Apple is also deploying new technology to improve material recovery. The company introduced Cora, a recycling line that uses advanced sensors and precision shredding to recover more material from end-of-life devices. This works alongside A.R.I.S., a machine-learning sorting system. Interestingly, the A.R.I.S. software runs on the Mac mini and is currently being piloted with partner recyclers to help classify electronic scrap more efficiently.



In terms of water stewardship, Apple and its suppliers saved 17 billion gallons of fresh water last year. The company's corporate operations now replenish more than half of the water withdrawn for its global offices and data centers. On the energy front, Apple's direct suppliers are now procuring more than 20 gigawatts of renewable energy, enough to power more than 3.4 million U.S. households.


To celebrate Earth Day, Apple is offering a new incentive for customers to recycle their old hardware. From now through May 16, users who bring in an eligible Apple device for recycling at a participating Apple Store can receive 10 percent off AirPods or accessories when purchasing a new eligible item in the same transaction. This promotion encourages participation in the company's circular economy as it pushes toward its 2030 climate goals.