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Surprisingly, Apple, the tech giant known for caring about the environment, has been accused of breaking gadgets that can still be used. A lot of people were upset when almost 100,000 iPhones that Apple had agreed to be thrown away were stolen and sold in China².
Apple hired a company called GEEP to destroy more than 250,000 iPhones every year²��. The first two years of this deal saw Apple give GEEP more than 530,000 iPhones, 25,000 iPads, and 19,000 Apple Watches²². But a check showed that at least 99,975 iPhones that GEEP said they had thrown away were actually sent to China and sold there on the used market².
This news has made people wonder how Apple feels about the world. A lot of the gadgets that were sent to be destroyed were still fully functional and could have been erased and sold again². Many people disagree with this practice because it goes against Apple’s public promise to make all of its products carbon neutral by 2030³².
The event has also caused a discussion about how the tech industry handles getting rid of old devices. People often hear about trade-in or swap programs, but a lot of these gadgets still work and could be used for years²². There might be more new sales, though, if there are fewer used items on the market.
In answer to the uproar, an Apple representative said that reusing devices has come a long way since the GEEP case was brought. They said that Apple makes durable goods that are often used by more than one person, and that users can easily return and re-use their devices².
Even with these promises, the event has shown how tech companies’ environmental promises and the way they run their businesses are at odds with each other. As people become more aware of how the things they buy affect the world, tech companies might need to rethink how they get rid of old devices².
In conclusion, Apple has done a lot to promote sustainability, but the debate over how it gets rid of old devices is a good warning that a lot more needs to be done². As the tech industry changes, businesses will have to find a way to match their commitment to sustainability with their business goals².
