Apple said it will use energy from its solar power generators in its factories to help reduce greenhouse emissions and offset energy used in its supply chain. (Photo : www.inhabitat.com)
Apple has announced plans to invest in solar power generators and help its manufacturing partners to become more environment-friendly, as part of efforts to boost its green credentials in China, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Apple CEO Tim Cook made the announcement as he said that the solar power generation will help reduce over 20 million tons of greenhouse gas pollution in China between now and 2020, equivalent to nearly four million passenger vehicles being taken off the road for a year.
According to Apple, the new generators that will be built in the north, east and south of China are capable to produce energy enough to power 265,000 Chinese homes.
The report said that Apple has already finished building solar installations in Sichuan Province, the first to be built outside of the United States. The solar power generators are designed to produce more than the total amount of electricity used by Apple's 19 corporate offices and 24 retail stores in the mainland and in Hong Kong, which offset the energy used in the company's supply chain, the report said.
"Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time, and the time for action is now," Cook said. "The transition to a new green economy requires innovation, ambition and purpose. We hope that many other suppliers, partners and other companies join us in this important effort."
The report added that Apple will share its best practices in clean energy with its Chinese suppliers, as well as help them with energy efficiency audits and regulatory guidance.
Cook added that the company will also partner with Chinese manufacturers to install clean energy generators in the coming years.
Foxconn, Apple's major supplier, also plans to build solar power generators with the capacity double that of Apple's. The company said they will start in central China's Henan Province, by 2018. Foxconn has also pledged to generate as much clean energy as what its Zhengzhou factory in Henan consumes during final production of iPhones.
"I hope that this renewable energy project will serve as a catalyst for continued efforts to promote a greener ecosystem in our industry and beyond," Terry Gou, Foxconn founder and CEO, said.
According to the report, 72 percent of Apple's carbon emissions in China is generated by the 334 suppliers in its supply chain.
Last month, the CITI Index ranked Apple in the first place as the brand with the most environmentally friendly supply chain in China.
