In 2015, Apple focused on its supply chain sustainability as part of the wider effort to become more sustainable and cognizant of environmental protection. In 2017, Apple successfully managed to divert more than 73, 000 metric tons of waste from ending up as garbage filling the land. Apple redesigned its supply chain to that which empowers people and protects the environment. Apple’s operations and its relationship with suppliers are guided by various standards, and thus, it is concerned with issues of environmental conservation, human rights, and responsibility when it comes to business practices in its supply chain (López-Campos et al. 32). The suppliers’ code of conduct gives the employees details of its commitment to environmental protection. Apple’s suppliers are required to make it formal to their employees about the company’s commitment to environmental protection when the new employees are hired. Similarly, the employees are given the power to report any concern regarding environmental protection.
Apple Inc is committed to doing everything possible to make the world a better place to live in, and the achievement of this relies on ensuring responsibility across the supply chain. Apple together with its suppliers are committed to fighting issues such as climate change. It is also committed to the implementation of green chemicals in manufacturing sectors, reduction of water use, and elimination of waste (Blanchard). To hasten its commitment to environmental protection through the supply chain, Apple conducts yearly assessments to ensure that all the suppliers adhere to the company’s set standards (“Apple Supplier Responsibility 2018 Progress Report” 2). In 2015, Apple conducted 640 audits of its supply chain all over the world. In this audit, Apple found that some of its suppliers, particularly those in China, had the opportunity to improve their working condition as well as increasing the overall sustainability.
Today, Apple suppliers across the world and China, in particular, have assembly facilities for Apple’s iPhones. Apple has put a lot of effort into recycling through its established recycling centers, something that has seen its waste converted to energy and lowering landfills (Blanchard). Besides, the company works towards encouraging its suppliers all over the world to consider alternative energy options and introduce tools and techniques that are more energy efficient to the overall supply chain. In 2015, Apple’s suppliers stopped over 13, 800 metric tons of carbon emissions from reaching the atmosphere (López-Campos et al. 38). Since 2015, Apple has managed to increase its overall sustainability, conserve precious resources, and protect the environment.
In order to achieve environmental protection through the supply chain, Apple has been looking for ways to advance the lives of its suppliers. In 2017, the company trained over 3 million employees in the supply department on Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct (“Apple Supplier Responsibility 2018 Progress Report” 3). The same year, the company expanded efforts of Zero Waste to Landfills using its suppliers to India. This effort made the company attain 100% UL requirements for iPhone final assembly facilities (“Apple Supplier Responsibility 2018 Progress Report” 3).
Overall, at the core of the company’s supply chain are those who make Apple’s products. The company’s primary focus is on the empowerment of individuals working in its supply chain with the opportunity to receive education on the importance of environmental protection. In 2013, Apple was committed to addressing various challenges encountered at the workplace including issues revolving around the safety of workers, health concerns, as well as concerns surrounding environmental protection and conservation. Apple continues to make great steps in its global supply chain. There is continued commitment on its part when it comes to addressing or solving various challenges encountered in the supply chain. In this regard, the company works hand in hand with government agencies and other partners with a similar vision and objective of seeing an improvement in the quality of human life while taking good care and protecting the environment.
Works Cited
Apple Supplier Responsibility 2018 Progress Report, n.d., https://www.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/pdf/Apple_SR_2018_Progress_Report.pdf
Blanchard, Dave. “Corporate Social Responsibility in the Supply Chain.” IndustryWeek, 17 July 2012, www.industryweek.com/environment/corporate-social-responsibility-supply-chain.
López-Campos, Mónica, et al. “Modelling and Analysis of the Apples Export Supply Chain Business Processes: Experiences from Chile.” In Best Practices in Manufacturing Processes. Springer, Cham, 2018. 29-52., https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-99190-0_2