Apple’s second day of new Mac announcements brought the redesigned and radically smaller M4 Mac mini. But the redesign isn’t all about aesthetics. The new Mac mini is also now Apple’s first carbon neutral Mac.
Mac mini joins Apple Watch as second major carbon neutral product
Mac mini is made with over 50 percent recycled content overall, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure, 100 percent recycled gold plating in all Apple-designed printed circuit boards, and 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets. The electricity used to manufacture Mac mini is sourced from 100 percent renewable electricity. And, to address 100 percent of the electricity customers use to power Mac mini, Apple has invested in clean energy projects around the world. Apple has also prioritized lower-carbon modes of shipping, like ocean freight, to further reduce emissions from transportation. Together, these actions have reduced the carbon footprint of Mac mini by over 80 percent.2 For the small amount of remaining emissions, Apple applies high-quality carbon credits from nature-based projects, like those generated by its innovative Restore Fund.
Apple also highlights that the Mac mini’s packaging is ”entirely fiber-based,” which helps advance Apple’s goal of eliminating plastic from all its product packaging by 2025.
Previously, the only fully carbon neutral Apple product has been the Apple Watch. The first carbon neutral Watch was launched last year with the Series 9, and expanded to more options with this year’s Series 10 lineup.
Not everyone agrees with Apple’s definitions of carbon neutrality, as the EU last year prevented Apple from marketing its new Watch as carbon neutrality. This is due to Apple’s reliance on carbon credits to cover part of its emissions, just as the company is doing with the Mac mini.
Nonetheless, the progress toward Apple’s 2030 goals can clearly be seen with today’s product launch.
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