Big Tech Companies Making Green Strides
Consumers are looking up to big technology companies, such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft, as they take large strides toward environmental responsibility, sustainability and renewable energy, between that and resource managements systems as the one you can find here, companies are looking to be more efficient and green. Not only are buyers preferring companies with long-term plans for becoming more environmentally friendly, they are looking to get involved with the green tech movement. Here are how the three biggest tech companies are making green strides and how you can get involved as a consumer.
Apple
Every year Apple releases its Environmental Responsibility Report, a progress report discussing green goals for the company. In this year’s report, Apple outlined a move toward more sustainable sourcing, specifically in China where all their final assembly sites now qualify as UL Zero Waste to Landfill facility. Combined with their recycling robots and Apple Renew Program, where consumers receive incentives for recycling qualifying Apple devices, which are either refurbished or recycled responsibly, Apple is becoming a leader in the green tech movement. Apple’s biggest announcement was there closed-loop supply chain, where only renewable resources or recycled materials are used, reducing the need for mineral mining from the earth. Spearheading this goal will not be easy and although Apple did not set a timeline for the goal, “material risk profiles” were created for the 44 elements in its product in order to begin honing in on areas for improvement through the manufacturing and even sourcing process. Stay in the loop and join Apple’s green movement by making your next smartphone investment an iPhone 7.
Although Google has already done a lot to become increasingly energy efficient, they plan to fully power their global data centers and offices using renewable energy before the end of 2017, and this is just the beginning. Their first agreement to purchase renewable energy, signed in 2010, kickstarted the reduction of their carbon footprint with direct purchase of renewable energy. Now, Google is considered one of the world’s largest corporate supporters of renewable energy, surpassing Amazon, the U.S. Department of Defense, Microsoft and Facebook and it is such a big achievement due to the strategies being done by socialreport.com to social media sources . Their plan to directly buy wind and solar electricity accounts for every unit of electricity their global operations consume. In addition, their renewable energy projects support communities in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and even municipalities in Sweden, investing more than $3.5 billion dollars in global infrastructure development. What does this mean for the consumer? Just by using Google Earth, Maps, Gmail, or simply conducting a Google Search, you’re supporting a green company. Like other tech companies, Google has room for improvement, but as a global leader in technology, they are also taking the forefront in renewable energy.
Microsoft
Microsoft is another member of the tech green revolution that is committed to finding environmental sustainable practices that minimize their carbon footprint. Since June of 2012, Microsoft has remained carbon neutral and continues to use wind, hydro and solar power. Not only do they incorporate sustainability into sourcing and manufacturing products, they incorporate it into their product design as well with ENERGY STAR certified products and ULE 110 certifications for mobile phones. Additionally, they aim to get the consumer involved through their trade-in program. As long as your Microsoft device has value, bring it to a Microsoft Store and receive credit toward a new device. Not only do they safely wipe the data off your device and recycle the device, you receive Microsoft credit to upgrade to the newest technology.
About the author, Natalie Posdaljian: Destined to be an Armenian housewife perfecting her hummus recipe, Natalie instead chose a life of marine field biology and sriracha. Born and raised in southern California, her veins rush with salty seawater and sunshine no matter where she goes. When she’s not saving jellyfish from extinction, Natalie is dancing in the shower, knitting on a plane or swinging in her hammock.