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APPLE HITS 30% RECYCLED CONTENT MILESTONE

INDUSTRY DESK1 MIN READ
THU, APR 16, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 2 SOURCES ▸ TIMELINE

Apple announced that 30% of material across all products shipped in 2025 came from recycled sources, a company record. All Apple-designed batteries now use 100% recycled cobalt.

The tech giant's latest sustainability figures mark significant progress in its environmental initiatives. The 30% recycled content average spans Apple's entire product lineup, reflecting improvements across manufacturing processes. The shift to 100% recycled cobalt in Apple-designed batteries represents a major step toward reducing mining dependency. Cobalt extraction has long been a concern due to environmental and ethical issues in certain regions. Apple has previously committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The company has been gradually increasing recycled material percentages across product lines, including rare earth elements in Taptic Engines and aluminum in device chassis. The announcements come as electronics manufacturers face increasing pressure from regulators and consumers to adopt circular economy practices. Apple's progress demonstrates the feasibility of scaling recycled material usage at a major industrial level, though the company's total environmental impact continues to attract scrutiny regarding energy consumption and product longevity.

■ SOURCES

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■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

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