The highly recyclable, even more energy-efficient MacBook family has been designed with the environment in mind.
When we designed the new MacBook, our designers and engineers set a goal of making not only the greenest notebook Apple ever produced, but the greenest family of notebooks. So every new MacBook has been built using materials that are highly recyclable and free of many of the harmful substances present in other computers. Apple engineers also designed the software and hardware to work together, in order to maximize energy efficiency and minimize the carbon footprint of the MacBook. Even the packaging was reconsidered and reduced, producing smaller boxes to ship and less material to recycle. The result is exactly what we hoped for: the greenest family of notebooks ever made.
Many harmful toxins eliminated.
Apple has worked hard to eliminate many of the toxins that are a common part of notebook manufacturing. Take, for example, the mercury used in CCFL backlights and the arsenic contained in the glass of traditional LCD displays. Apple engineers removed both by choosing mercury-free LED technology and arsenic-free glass. They also removed brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from circuit boards, internal cables, connectors, insulators, shock mounts, adhesives, and more. Apple has removed these toxins from MacBook computers, and we’ve done the same for the Apple LED Cinema Display, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPhone 3G.
Highly recyclable.
The MacBook precision unibody enclosure is formed from a single piece of solid, recyclable aluminum, replacing dozens of extraneous parts. The display is made of recyclable glass. Both materials are very desirable to recyclers, which means the raw materials used in the new MacBook computers can be reused in other products.
More energy efficient.
Because Apple makes both the hardware and the software for the MacBook, we are able to design them to work together. This allows us to make a smarter product that uses less electricity, earning it ENERGY STAR certification. For instance, to reduce energy consumption, the MacBook hard drive spins down automatically when inactive. The MacBook also decides which processor — CPU or GPU — is best suited to efficiently perform a task. The processor even throttles down to save power between keystrokes as you type. The LED-backlit display in the MacBook is another feature that plays an important part in conserving energy, consuming 30 percent less power than conventional LCD displays. And the display is designed to dim when you enter a darkened room. Together, these adjustments make the MacBook family much more energy efficient. In fact, our most popular notebook, the MacBook, can run on just one-quarter the power of a single lightbulb.
Reduced packaging.
The new MacBook packaging is up to 41 percent smaller than the previous generation. And smaller boxes are much better for the planet. Because smaller boxes mean we can fit more boxes on each shipping pallet — up to 25 percent more. Which means more products will fit on each boat and plane. Which means fewer boats and planes are used, resulting in fewer CO2 emissions. It’s just one seemingly minor change. But it has a major positive impact on our environment.
The new MacBook family embodies Apple’s continuing environmental commitment. Each new MacBook is designed with the following features to reduce its environmental footprint:
- Arsenic-free glass
- Mercury-free LED-backlit display
- BFR-free internal components
- PVC-free internal cables
- Highly recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure
- Up to 41 percent smaller packaging
Apple Environmental Update
Apple is on track to eliminate harmful toxic chemicals from our products. In the 2008 Environmental Update, CEO Steve Jobs provides an overview of Apple’s progress to eliminate mercury and arsenic from displays and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from internal components. Steve Jobs also talks about Apple’s policy on climate change, steps taken to improve product energy efficiency and Apple’s overall recycling performance in 2007.
2008 Environmental Performance
Environmental Performance 2008 outlines the results of Apple’s efforts to minimize the environmental impact of both its products and its facilities. You can review a number of reports that cover our products, facilities performance, environmental health and safety policy, and recycling programs.
