Here are more updates...

October 2023: Apple Sustainability Strategy and Timeline

• Podcast: Are certain Apple Watch models really carbon neutral? Professor Ayman Omar, a supply chain expert from the Kogod School of Business, shares perspectives in this podcast.
• Sustainability Scorecard:  Although Apple's sustainability strategy has some gaps and weaknesses, the company's overall carbon reduction efforts appear to be outpacing big IT companies such as Dell, Google, HP, Microsoft and Nvidia, according to a Stand.Earth report.
• Greenwashing Denial: Apple CEO Tim Cook counters greenwashing accusations in this interview with Brut.
• Greenwashing Accusation: The Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE), a nonprofit entity based in Beijing, alleges that Apple may be overstating the recent Apple Watch carbon neutral claims, Inside Climate News reported.

September 2023: Apple Sustainability Strategy and Timeline

• Accelerator: Acumen, with support from Apple, has selected 15 startups to join the Energy for Livelihoods Accelerator, India Today reported. The 12-week program, hosted in India, is designed to help social entrepreneurs scale and refine their businesses to "transform the lives of people living in poverty, while also protecting the environment."

• Right to Repair - Airpod Challenges: Although Apple promotes carbon-neutral products and the company is warming up to California's Right to Repair Act, AirPod products will need a redesign in order to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly, Vox reports.

September 12, 2023: Carbon Neutral Apple Watch and More

During a full-day of product launches on September 12, 2023, the company unveiled new applications, products and services to help customers and partners with their sustainability efforts.

Among the key September 2023 news developments to note: The company has...

• introduced carbon neutral Apple Watch models;
• ended the use of leather across all of its product lines;
• announced its first entirely fiber-based packaging for the new Apple Watch lineup;
• continued to expand the use of recycled materials in iPhone; and
• introduced Grid Forecast, a Home app that lets users know when their grid has cleaner energy available.

Each carbon neutral watch model, the company said has:

• 100% clean electricity for manufacturing and product use;
• 30% recycled or renewable material by weight;
• 50% of shipping without the use of air transportation; 

To offset the remaining carbon footprint, the company plans to use "high-quality carbon credits" from such organizations as Restore Fund, Arbaro Advisors and BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group. Every carbon neutral Apple Watch is certified by SCS Global Services, a provider of environmental standards and certification.

In a prepared statement about the efforts, Lisa Jackson, Apple's VP of environment, policy and social initiatives, said: “At Apple, we have a longstanding and proven commitment to leading the fight against climate change. Our focus on renewable energy and low-carbon design has already driven industry-leading emissions reductions, and we’re not slowing down. We’ve achieved an important milestone in making the world’s most popular watch carbon neutral — and we will keep innovating to meet the urgency of the moment.”

Jackson is well-known worldwide for her sustainability acumen. In August 2023, Jackson joined Galvanize Climate Solutions, a climate-focused global investment firm, as strategic advisor.

Despite the efforts above, the company still faces occasional criticism from human rights activists who point to potential labor issues in Asia; e-waste and recycling limitations; and Apple's slow adoption of Right to Repair initiatives. We'll provide more details about those criticisms -- and Apple's responses -- in an article update soon.