White House Pledges: American Business Act On Climate

In October 2015, Apple signed the White House pledge “American Business Act on Climate”; with 80 other companies. Apple CEO Time Cook said in a statement “Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time, and the time for action is now. The transition to a new green economy requires innovation, ambition and purpose. We believe passionately in leaving the world better than we found it and hope that many other suppliers, partners and other companies join us in this important effort.” Apple an electronics conglomerate, recently announced that 87% of their global operations are powered by renewable energy; with the U.S. being 100% converted. However, this percentage is only 1% of their carbon footprint. To further their green efforts;

When Apple made the decision to sign the pledge “American Business Act on Climate”; they solidified their commitment to being an environmentally responsible business; and in a sense did the same on behalf of their suppliers and manufacturers. The pledge has specific goals such as reducing emissions by as much as 50 percent; reducing water usage by as much as 80 percent; achieving zero waste-to-landfill, purchasing 100 percent renewable energy; and pursuing zero net deforestation in supply chains. Apple has begun tackling the pledge to reduce emissions by 50% by converting its operations to renewable energy; but the buck does not end with their own facilities. Due to their large supply chain in China, Apple’s carbon footprint is one of massive size. A substantial portion of Apple’s emissions derive from their suppliers and manufacturers. Apple will impact the supply chain community by pushing their suppliers to become environmentally responsible. Working with suppliers to implement environmentally sound practices; such as employing renewable energy. Companies in the supply chain community that are not sustainable will lose many business relationships. Apple would tarnish their reputation if they entered into a relationship with a non-sustainable supplier. Being an environmentally conscious company gives Apple a competitive edge in comparison to some of its competitors. As stated earlier, consumers look for companies that instill green