The manufacturing and assembly process of Apple devices is a very important process, completely invisible to the user. However, even if nothing looks like it from the outside, that doesn’t mean the manufacturing of the products doesn’t make an impact. And in 2025, the Cupertino company has a goal that, when achieved, will result in innovations throughout its production chain.
Importance of cobalt in Apple devices
“Rare earths” are essential materials for the manufacture of technical equipment. However, these are much rarer than the others, and their mining is aggressive, which includes it all. Apple products are also not spared from the use of these and among them, cobalt as a central element for the manufacture of batteries.
Getting that much cobalt is no easy task and has huge implications both economically and environmentally. And to be precise, Apple’s innovations in the production chain involve recovering and recycling a large proportion of these rare earths, to avoid them being mined again. And what is the significant difference they will make from 2025? Basically, the use of (practically) 100% recycled cobalt in all the batteries powering their equipment.
It is going to be a milestone in many ways. First, significantly reduce the impact on the environment. Next, the demonstration that the implantation of robots in recycling chains and the continuous improvements made in terms of attaching and detaching equipment would result in unprecedented results.
“Apple has significantly expanded its use of 100% certified recycled cobalt over the past three years, which will allow it to be included in all batteries the company designs by 2025,” the company itself explains in a press release. And if we look at the focus on rare earths as a whole, they further state that “the company’s use of 100% certified recycled rare earths has also grown substantially over the past year, rising to 45% in 2021.” 73% in 2022″.
Apple’s New Stuff
Although cobalt is a very important element, the truth is that it is not the only material used in products that claim to be 100% recycled. Gold is also a pillar in the context of manufacturing the printed circuits of the devices, and Apple confirms that by the same date, they will be using entirely recycled gold.
We are tinned by gold. This material is essential for welding various components in the main circuit. While the use of recycled tin has continued to increase in recent years, Apple has set a goal of using 100% recycled tin in all solder on its products.
“In the transition to recycled and renewable materials, Apple has prioritized 14 materials for sourcing, human rights and their impact on the environment. Together, these materials account for approximately 90% of the materials included in Apple products: steel, aluminum, cobalt, copper, tin, lithium, gold, paper, plastics, rare earths, tantalum, glass, tungsten, and zinc.
