On September 12, Apple announced its commitment to offer carbon-neutral versions of its Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Apple Watch SE models, distinguished by a new green logo on their packaging. The change in this attempt is a shift towards more environmentally friendly modes of transportation, with less reliance on airlines.
All You Need to Know about the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 Being Carbon Neutral
Apple has a target to become carbon neutral by 2030. One of the challenges in achieving this is reducing emissions related to Apple’s transportation network, which has relied on air travel.
In the past, Apple pioneered the use of planes for transporting consumer electronics from its manufacturing facilities in China to destinations worldwide. This has helped minimize inventory requirements and boost profitability.
However, in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint, Apple is making a substantial change. For the three new watch models, including the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, half of the shipments by weight, from factories to destinations like regional distribution centers, will now be transported via more eco-friendly methods such as boats, trains, or other means that consume less fuel and generate fewer carbon emissions, contributing to the fight against climate change.
These new carbon-conscious versions of Apple Watches are expected to produce lower emissions compared to Apple’s previous product lines. For any remaining emissions, Apple plans to purchase carbon offsets. Lisa Jackson, the head of the company’s environmental and governance initiatives, talked about their commitment to reducing emissions through existing technology.
The company previously disclosed that a Series 8 watch generated approximately 33 kilograms of carbon emissions, from the extraction of raw materials to the delivery to end customers. In contrast, the new environmentally friendly aluminum Series 9, equipped with a sport loop band, will result in only 8.1 kilograms of emissions after Apple’s improvements, with the remaining emissions to be offset by carbon credits. This represents a significant reduction compared to the 29 kilograms of emissions associated with the standard stainless steel version of the Series 9 with the same band.
Apple’s dedication to reducing carbon emissions is for all its new watches, including the SE. These watches are crafted using custom aluminum and titanium alloys made from recycled materials, and their batteries contain only recycled cobalt. The company also wants to expand these practices to more of its product lines in the future as per its commitment to environmental responsibility.
While the green-tagged watches will be offered at the same price as their standard counterparts, Apple executives did not directly address whether they would be less profitable. Instead, they highlighted the importance of making adjustments that are both environmentally sustainable and beneficial to the long-term survival of their own and others. As Lisa Jackson stated the goal is to make these changes replicable and accessible to a wide range of businesses, allowing them to operate profitably as well as contributing to a greener future.
