Apple sustainability leader visits Stanford for second annual Climate Week – The Stanford Daily

Report on Apple’s Sustainability Strategy and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Event Summary: Stanford Climate Week Keynote

During Stanford University’s second annual Climate Week, a keynote address was delivered by Bessma Aljarbou, Apple’s Head of Strategy of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation. The session focused on Apple’s corporate sustainability initiatives, its strategic alignment with global environmental goals, and the role of corporate leadership in driving climate action. The discussion provided a comprehensive overview of how the company integrates environmental innovation across its global operations, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Corporate Strategy for Climate Action (SDG 13)

The “Apple 2030” Initiative

A central component of Apple’s environmental strategy is the “Apple 2030” plan, a corporate commitment that directly addresses SDG 13: Climate Action. This initiative establishes an ambitious target for the company’s climate impact.

• Primary Goal: To achieve carbon neutrality across its entire value chain by the year 2030.
• Scope: The goal encompasses the company’s global supply chain and the life-cycle energy use of its products.
• Emissions Target: A commitment to reduce overall emissions by 75% from 2015 levels.

Progress and Achievements

Significant progress has already been made toward these climate targets. As reported by Aljarbou, Apple has successfully reduced its carbon emissions by over 60% since 2015, demonstrating tangible progress in its decarbonization efforts and its contribution to global climate objectives.

Advancing Responsible Consumption, Production, and Innovation (SDG 12 & SDG 9)

Core Strategic Pillars for Sustainability

Apple’s approach to product design and supply chain management is foundational to its sustainability efforts, aligning with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. The strategy is built on several key pillars:

1. Greener Materials: Proactively infusing product designs with materials that are sourced responsibly and have a lower environmental footprint.
2. Resource Conservation: Implementing measures to conserve finite resources throughout the manufacturing process.
3. Circular Supply Chain: Prioritizing a circular economy model as a key factor in its decarbonization strategy, focusing on the recycling and reuse of materials.
4. Impact Reduction: Systematically working to reduce the environmental impact of its global supply chain.

Commitment to Clean Energy and Decent Work (SDG 7 & SDG 8)

Energy and Supply Chain Management

The company’s strategy extends beyond emissions to encompass broader sustainability concerns, reflecting a commitment to additional SDGs.

• Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7): A core component of the “Apple 2030” plan involves ensuring that the energy used to power its products is clean, contributing to the global transition to renewable energy sources.
• Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8): Aljarbou highlighted that Apple’s mission includes protecting the people who “use, make and recycle” its products, underscoring a commitment to safe and fair labor practices within its extensive supply chain.

Inspiring Future Action and Collaboration (SDG 17)

Engagement and Call to Action

The event at Stanford served as a platform for fostering dialogue and inspiring the next generation of leaders, a key aspect of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The fireside chat, moderated by student Gheed El Bizri, aimed to “humanize climate work” by providing insight into the leadership and constraints within major corporations.

Guidance for Emerging Leaders

Aljarbou concluded with a direct call to action for the student attendees, encouraging them to integrate sustainability into their future careers:

• Seek employment with companies that demonstrate a genuine commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
• Recognize that impactful sustainability work can be executed from any position or department within an organization.
• Uphold core principles of ethical and sustainable corporate conduct.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights corporate sustainability efforts, primarily focusing on environmental responsibility, climate action, and innovation in production. Based on the content, the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are addressed:

   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article mentions Bessma Aljarbou’s background in “solar energy” and “clean technology start-ups.” Apple’s goal to be “carbon neutral” across its value chain, including the “energy used to power its products,” inherently requires a massive shift towards clean and renewable energy sources.
   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The article emphasizes Apple’s focus on “environmental innovation across its global operations” and its work to “infuse greener materials” into its products. This directly relates to upgrading industries to be more sustainable and efficient.
   • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: This is a central theme. The article details Apple’s efforts in “conserving finite resources,” reducing the environmental impact of its “supply chain,” and implementing a “circular supply chain.” These actions are core to establishing sustainable patterns of consumption and production.
   • SDG 13: Climate Action: The most prominent SDG in the article. The event itself is “Stanford’s Climate Week,” and Apple’s primary goal discussed is to “reduce our impact on climate change.” The “Apple 2030” plan is a clear corporate climate action strategy.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Several specific SDG targets can be linked to the initiatives described in the article:

   • Under SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
     • Target 7.2: “By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.” Apple’s commitment to power its products and supply chain with clean energy, as implied by its carbon neutrality goal, directly contributes to this target.
   • Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure):
     • Target 9.4: “By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes…” Apple’s strategy of using “greener materials” and its focus on “environmental innovation” are direct applications of this target.
   • Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
     • Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” This is addressed through Apple’s efforts in “conserving finite resources” and designing products with materials “sourced in a way that’s better for people and the planet.”
     • Target 12.5: “By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.” The article’s mention of the “circular supply chain as the key factor” directly aligns with this target’s goal of minimizing waste.
     • Target 12.6: “Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.” The entire event, featuring a high-level executive from Apple discussing the company’s public “Apple 2030” plan and progress, is a clear example of this target in action.
   • Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
     • While SDG 13 targets are primarily aimed at governments, corporate actions are essential for their achievement. Apple’s ambitious goals directly support the overall aim of the Paris Agreement and SDG 13. The “Apple 2030” plan to be “carbon neutral across its entire value chain” is a corporate strategy that mirrors the national-level commitments called for in Target 13.2 (Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article explicitly mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   • For SDG 9 and SDG 13 (Industry/Climate):
     • A specific quantitative indicator of progress is stated: Apple has “already reduced its carbon emissions by more than 60% since 2015.” This measures progress in decarbonization (related to indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added).
     • A future target is provided as an indicator: The commitment “to reducing its emissions by 75%” as part of the Apple 2030 goal.
     • The ultimate goal serves as a key performance indicator: Achieving “carbon neutral across its entire value chain” by 2030.
   • For SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
     • A key strategic indicator is the implementation of a “circular supply chain.” The extent to which materials are reused, recycled, and sourced sustainably would be the measure of success.
     • The use of “greener materials” is another indicator. Progress could be measured by the percentage of recycled or renewable materials used in products.
   • For SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
     • While not quantified, the mention of a background in “solar energy” and the goal of carbon neutrality imply that an increase in the share of renewable energy in Apple’s operations is a key internal indicator for the company.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators (Mentioned or Implied in the Article)
   SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.	Implied use of clean energy (e.g., solar) to power products and supply chains to meet carbon neutral goals.
   SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean technologies.	– Reduction of carbon emissions by more than 60% since 2015. – Commitment to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030.
   SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation. 12.6: Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and reporting.	– Implementation of a “circular supply chain.” – Use of “greener materials.” – Public reporting on sustainability initiatives (the “Apple 2030” plan).
   SDG 13: Climate Action	General alignment with the goal of taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.	– The “Apple 2030” goal of being “carbon neutral across its entire value chain.” – Progress measurement: “reduced its carbon emissions by more than 60% since 2015.”

Source: stanforddaily.com