Apple releases 12th annual Supplier Responsibility Progress Report

Apple’s 12th annual Supplier Responsibility Progress Report details progress the company is making to improve working conditions at supplier facilities, protect the planet and ensure responsible sourcing. Since 2007, almost 15 million supplier employees have been trained on their rights, including 3 million just last year. Constantly raising the bar, finding problems and fixing them, providing advancement opportunities and reporting transparently are fundamental to Apple’s supplier responsibility efforts.

See more highlights in the new Supplier Responsibility Progress Report.

Apple’s efforts to create a greener supply chain resulted in significant progress in 2017. All iPhone final assembly sites around the world have now been certified as zero waste to landfill. More of Apple’s products were made using renewable energy, while also reducing overall energy usage and carbon emissions. Suppliers working with Apple implemented energy efficiency improvements that reduced more than 320,000 annualized metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2017.

Apple’s efforts to create a greener supply chain resulted in significant progress in 2017. All iPhone final assembly sites around the world have now been certified as zero waste to landfill. More of Apple’s products were made using renewable energy, while also reducing overall energy usage and carbon emissions. Suppliers working with Apple implemented energy-efficiency improvements that reduced more than 320,000 annualised metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2017.

Last year Apple launched a programme to help improve health awareness for women at its suppliers, so they are better prepared to take control of their health and share that knowledge back to their families and communities. The programme started at facilities in India and China and provides information and access to services, including self-examination for early cancer detection, nutrition, personal care and maternal health. Apple aims to reach 1 million women at its suppliers around the world by 2020.

“We believe that everyone making Apple products deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and we’re proud that almost 15 million people understand their workplace rights as a result of the work we’ve done over the years. We’re going further with health education programs and new opportunities for advancement at our suppliers,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s COO. “A new preventive health care curriculum is encouraging women to focus on their personal health, and hopefully share that knowledge with their families and communities. Our goal is to reach 1 million women by 2020. We know our work is never done and we’re committed to raising the bar every year across our supply chain.”

Additionally, Apple worked with some of its large suppliers and Beijing Normal University on a new programme to address challenges recruiting qualified factory line leaders. The Factory Line Leader Programme bridges the gap between skills and employment by providing practical vocational skills and guaranteed internships with an Apple supplier, as well as long-term, full-time employment opportunities. In the last 10 years, more than 2.5 million supplier employees have taken education classes, ranging from language skills to software development, and 12,000 are graduating with a degree.

The company conducted 756 audits spanning 30 countries and covering suppliers representing 95 percent of total spend. Apple’s efforts to raise standards are having a dramatic impact and the number of low-performing facilities decreased to just 1 percent.

Apple goes deeper into the supply chain to find issues and fix them more than any other company in its industry and each year it will do more to raise the bar and protect the people who make Apple products as well as the planet.