Apple has run into a stubborn problem in its effort to decarbonize the supply chain: printed circuit boards. Apple’s environmental reports show manufacturing-supplier emissions were flat from 2024 to 2025, and DigiTimes says PCB suppliers for iPhones, Macs, and other Apple devices are still among the hardest parts of the chain to clean up.
That isn’t surprising if you look at how boards are made. PCB production is one of the most energy-hungry stages in electronics, and as high-performance boards get more complex, suppliers are burning through more electricity and water. DigiTimes reports that purchased electricity by itself accounts for nearly 60% of the sector’s carbon footprint. At the same time, Apple says it wants direct manufacturers to use 100% renewable electricity for Apple production before 2030. In the main Asian manufacturing hubs, though, renewable supply is still limited, clean power often costs more, and the grid can’t always support the shift, according to DigiTimes.
Apple says it and its direct suppliers have brought 20GW of renewable energy online. Even so, manufacturing-supplier emissions didn’t budge from 2024 to 2025, according to Apple’s environmental reports. That points to a bigger issue: clean electricity helps, but it doesn’t fix process emissions, material constraints, or rising demand on its own. DigiTimes also reports that lower-carbon PCB materials still don’t meet some top-end performance requirements, and getting them approved at scale takes time. Meanwhile, Apple and Google are pressing suppliers to publish sustainability reports and cut emissions further down the chain, even as Taiwan’s chip industry is logging record electricity use, according to DigiTimes.
If you track Apple’s manufacturing strategy, keep an eye on this. For the fuller picture, go to DigiTimes and Apple’s environmental reports.
Author: Manuel Bosque
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"es-ES": "Manuel Bosque se ocupa de la cobertura de software en Softonic: programas de escritorio, herramientas de productividad y utilidades pequeñas que resuelven bien un solo problema. Su criterio es práctico —qué hace realmente un programa, qué pide a cambio y a quién le sirve—, y por eso desconfía de las listas de funciones y prefiere probar. Forma parte del equipo que decide cómo se cuenta el software en la web y trabaja a diario con herramientas de IA aplicadas a la producción editorial.",
"fr-FR": "Manuel Bosque couvre les logiciels chez Softonic : programmes de bureau, outils de productivité et petits utilitaires qui résolvent bien un seul problème. Son approche est pratique — ce qu'un logiciel fait vraiment, ce qu'il demande en échange et à qui il s'adresse —, d'où sa méfiance envers les listes de fonctionnalités et sa préférence pour l'essai. Il fait partie de l'équipe qui définit la manière de traiter le logiciel sur le site et travaille au quotidien avec des outils d'IA appliqués à la production éditoriale.",
"it-IT": "Manuel Bosque si occupa di software su Softonic: programmi per il desktop, strumenti di produttività e piccole utility che risolvono bene un solo problema. Il suo criterio è pratico — cosa fa davvero un programma, cosa chiede in cambio e a chi serve — e per questo diffida degli elenchi di funzioni e preferisce provare. Fa parte del team che decide come si racconta il software sul sito e lavora ogni giorno con strumenti di IA applicati alla produzione editoriale.",
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"pt-BR": "Manuel Bosque cobre software na Softonic: programas para desktop, ferramentas de produtividade e pequenos utilitários que resolvem bem um problema só. Seu critério é prático — o que um programa realmente faz, o que pede em troca e para quem serve — e por isso desconfia de listas de recursos e prefere testar. Faz parte da equipe que define como o software é abordado no site e trabalha diariamente com ferramentas de IA aplicadas à produção editorial."
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