The company is focusing on reducing emissions associated with the use of its products in Australia, including iPhones and Macs. While Apple has already moved its own operations to renewable energy, the emissions created by users charging and operating their devices - known as scope 3 emissions - remain a significant challenge.
To address this, Apple is backing clean electricity projects in Australia that can eventually match the energy its customers use. A key part of this strategy is purchasing energy from an 80-megawatt solar farm currently being built in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria. Developed by European Energy, the project is expected to generate more than one million megawatt-hours of clean energy by 2030.
In addition to solar, Apple is supporting a regenerative agriculture project in Queensland. The initiative will transform 1,700 hectares of former sugarcane land into macadamia orchards, planting over 800,000 trees. This project will capture carbon from the atmosphere and support local agriculture, showing how environmental action can align with economic growth. Although some political figures in both Australia and the US have criticised such sustainability spending, Apple is framing it as essential for long-term success.
Beyond renewable energy, Apple is advancing its recycling efforts through a custom robot named Daisy that recovers valuable materials from old devices. One tonne of dismantled iPhones can yield as much useful metal as 2,000 tonnes of mined rock. However, many consumers hesitate to trade in their devices due to emotional ties and concerns about data privacy. Apple is working to address these barriers with added safeguards.
Apple’s sustainability efforts in Australia also include projects under its Restore Fund, which invests in verified nature-based carbon removal with both environmental and economic benefits. The company supports Indigenous and educational initiatives too, including youth justice efforts, digital skills programs and community-led conservation work. These investments aim to connect Apple’s climate mission to local Australian communities.
By combining solar, farming, recycling, education and local partnerships, Apple wants to show that sustainability can be good for business. The company hopes this approach will encourage other global brands to adopt similar strategies.
