Apple looking to Chinese forests for renewable energy

May 11, 2015 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

Apple is expanding its renewable energy and environmental protection initiatives in China, including a new multi-year project with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to significantly increase responsibly-managed forests across China. Apple's goal is to achieve a net-zero impact on the world's supply of sustainable virgin fiber, and power all its operations worldwide on 100 percent renewable energy.

Jinjiang River in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. Credit: BenBen/Wikimedia Commons

"Forests, like energy, can be renewable resources," said Lisa Jackson, vice president of environmental initiatives with Apple. "We believe we can run on naturally renewable resources and ensure that we protect -- and create -- as much sustainable working forest as needed to produce the virgin paper in our product packaging. This is an important step toward that goal and our commitment to leave the world better than we found it."

The new forestland program aims to protect as much as 1 million acres of responsibly managed working forests which provide fiber for pulp, paper and wood products.

Apple is also expanding its industry-leading renewable energy projects to manufacturing facilities in China.

"We've set an example by greening our data centers, retail stores, and corporate offices, and we're ready to start leading the way toward reducing carbon emissions from manufacturing," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "This won't happen overnight -- in fact, it will take years -- but it's important work that has to happen, and Apple is in a unique position to take the initiative toward this ambitious goal. It is a responsibility we accept. We are excited to work with leaders in our supply chain who want to be on the cutting edge of China's green transformation."

Three weeks ago, Apple launched its first major solar project in China with Leshan Electric Power Co. The two 20 megawatt (MW) solar farms in Sichuan Province will generate more energy than needed to power all of Apple's corporate offices and retail stores in China. Together, the project will generate up to 80 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year of clean energy.

The solar projects were designed specifically to minimize their ecological impact and protect the grasslands that support the yak population, and, ultimately, the local economy. Currently, 87 percent of Apple's global operations run on renewable energy, and the Sichuan Province solar project will bring Apple that much closer to its commitment of 100 percent.

The solar projects, which are currently under construction, are expected to be online at the end of 2015.

Apple has a huge presence in China, currently operating 19 corporate offices and 22 retail stores directly employing 8,000 people and supporting more than 3 million jobs.

"This collaboration between our two organizations will seek to reduce China's ecological footprint by helping produce more wood from responsibly managed forests within its own borders. Doing so is essential to China, the world's biggest timber importer," said Lo Sze Ping, chief executive officer, WWF China. "Our hope is this will catalyze a new model of corporate leadership in promoting sustainable forest management and using paper resources more efficiently and responsibly around the world."

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