Introduction Climate Change Resources Smarter Chemistry Engagement and Advocacy Appendix 2023 Environmental Progress Report 54 Getting to zero through innovation We’ve also achieved reductions by developing thinner Engaging with suppliers to reduce waste which allows for third-party zero-waste verification at a Innovation plays a significant role in advancing progress stretch wrapping film used on pallets for final product We work closely with our suppliers to realize our zero- systems level rather than at a site level. The assurance toward zero waste within our supply chain. We use novel packaging. This wrapping film is a significant portion of waste goals. This work faces a range of challenges, procedure has allowed us to accelerate the verification recycling strategies and approaches to divert greater the virgin plastic usage in our supply chain. The thinner including a lack of access to recycling technologies, process significantly and establishes a new model that quantities of waste from landfill in our supplier facilities at film reduces the amount of plastic needed by up to the absence of local infrastructure, and the lower value companies across industries can employ to verify zero- even greater rates. But we also pursue material solutions 50 percent . We’ve shared the formula for our proprietary of recyclable material that impacts the economics of waste programs at scale. This streamlined approach has to impact the waste streams coming into these facilities thinner stretch film with our suppliers’ current wrapping recycling. We engage with our suppliers to address these brought even more suppliers into our program, with more to simplify and maximize the recyclable content that our film vendors to help accelerate its adoption while challenges through knowledge sharing. The Waste to than 150 validated in 2022 — a 50 percent increase from suppliers work with. producing stronger wrapping films for product packaging. Resource database that we designed provides access the previous year. 72 to available technologies and local recyclers that we’ve We’ve partnered with our suppliers and local businesses Another opportunity for waste reduction is to decrease collected from the suppliers that we work with. The We also provide support for our suppliers in verifying their to create new recycling options and develop opportunities the amount of plastic tape used on our production lines — database provides information on more than 1000 zero-waste efforts. The foundation of our Zero Waste for material reuse. Recycling and reuse provide and to develop a stronger paper tape that can act as an resources across more than 177 cities in China, Thailand, Program since launch has been following the UL 2799 environmental benefits and can help our suppliers alternative. An audit of our production processes showed and Vietnam — a number that grows as we and our Zero Waste to Landfill Environmental Claim Validation increase material efficiency while reducing the costs that the plastic tape used to secure parts before assembly suppliers share valuable resources through the database. Procedure (ECVP), which requires at least 90 percent associated with material waste. At final assembly supplier is often mixed with paper tape, making it difficult to sort As more of our suppliers achieve their zero-waste goals, diversion through methods other than waste-to-energy. sites, more of our suppliers use the recyclable and and divert from landfill to a recycling process. And in many we’re able to learn and share more information. We plan Through this standard, our supplier facilities can certify reusable alternatives that we helped develop for key cases, the plastic tape wasn’t needed. We found that for to make this resource public for the benefit of the entire against clear benchmarks for waste diversion, including sources of waste. In particular, our Recyclable Protective 75 percent of the parts secured with plastic tape, paper electronics industry. Platinum, Gold, and Silver levels of verification. We’ve Films (RPFs) that protect products during manufacturing tape could perform equally well. We then worked with spent the last seven years expanding this program and the reusable trays used to deliver modules safely an industry-leading tape producer with the technology Reducing waste is an ongoing collaboration between us throughout our supply chain, with suppliers in China, through assembly sites have helped our suppliers to produce a strong, lower-cost paper alternative. This and our suppliers and recycling vendors. We’re actively India, and Vietnam becoming UL validated. In 2022, reduce waste. new paper tape alternative was put to use for 200 parts, sharing best practices and innovative approaches to Thailand joined that list when a local Apple supplier eliminating 1200 m etric tons of virgin plastic from our reduce waste; and we’re matching our suppliers with became the first in the country to receive UL 2799 waste streams. capable recycling technologies that help eliminate waste ZWTL Gold validation. Since we switched from individual throughout the process of manufacturing our products. site verification to system-level verification, suppliers participating in the assurance program can easily One example of this is a tool developed by Apple and apply their verification statements from UL. Following UL Solutions, our partner that validates zero-waste the switch, many suppliers maintained their individual efforts. The tool provides the first-ever supply chain certification for their own purposes. zero-waste management system assurance program,