Apple is targeting its Chinese supply chain as its next green initiative. Amid criticism that its global partners are polluters, Apple is moving in to cut down emissions by as much as 20 million tons. The global tech giant plans on doing this by harnessing solar energy on a massive scale, Huffpost Tech reported.
The initiative in China echoes the company's example at home. Apple has achieved 100% carbon neutrality in the US by generating its own clean energy, as well as buying credits from clean energy providers, Fortune noted.
The Apple plan involves the construction of solar projects in northern, eastern, and southern China that will produce 200 Megawatts of energy. To put into perspective, this is the equivalent of energy consumption of 265,000 Chinese homes in a year.
To put another way, the combined solar projects that start this year all the way to 2020 will avoid the carbon emissions prodcued by 4 million passenger vehicles in one year.
Sichuan Province is the first Chinese region to benefit from the project. A 40 Megawatt solar energy system has already been put in place and paves the way for the rest of Apple's renewable energy bid. 40 Megawatts is sufficient to power all of Apple's offices and retail stores in the country and makes its operations carbon neutral there as well, Renewables Biz reported.
The willingness of Apple to even fund such an ambitious project on its own was not lost on observers. Greenpeace, for one, lauded the company's efforts.
Tim Cook, Apple CEO, also adds, "The transition to a new green economy requires innovation, ambition and purpose. We believe passionately in leaving the world better than we found it and hope that many other suppliers, partners and other companies join us in this important effort."
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