iPhone 16e Review: Sustainability & Environment
Recycled Materials
Cobalt
100% recycled cobalt in the battery
Plastics
50% or more recycled plastic in 15 components. 25% recycled content in the antenna lines made from upcycled plastic bottles. Recycled content claims for materials used in products have been verified by an independent third party to a recycled content standard that conforms to ISO 14021.
Aluminum
85% recycled aluminum in the enclosure. Calculates emissions savings from the use of recycled or low-carbon materials, currently quantifying savings from recycled aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel in the enclosure. Low-carbon materials refer to materials created using production techniques with reduced carbon impact, such as aluminum smelted with hydroelectricity.
Tin
100% recycled tin in the solder of all Apple-designed printed circuit boards. By the end of 2025, Apple plans to use 100% recycled tin soldering in all Apple-designed rigid and flexible printed circuit boards. Apple requires all identified tin smelters and refiners to participate in third-party audits.
Steel
80% or more recycled steel in multiple components, including the back glass support plate, speaker, and multiple small parts.
Copper
100% recycled copper in multiple printed circuit boards, 100% recycled copper wire in the Taptic Engine, and 100% recycled copper foil and wire in the inductive charger.
Ocean Bound Plastic
Not specified
Packaging
Recycled Packaging
100% fiber-based and contains 60% recycled content. 100% recycled or responsibly sourced wood fibers are used. Packaging is designed to remove plastic by the end of 2025. Packaging redesigned to be smaller and more efficient than iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus boxes, reducing overall volume by 12 percent. Adhesives, inks, and coatings are excluded from plastic content and packaging weight calculations. Packaging aims to be plastic-free by the end of 2025.
Recycled Fibre
100% fiber-based and contains 60% recycled content. 100% recycled or responsibly sourced wood fibers are used in packaging. Responsible sourcing of wood fiber considers wood fibers to include bamboo.
Plastic Free Packaging
100% fiber-based and contains no plastic except for inks, coatings, and adhesives. This is a milestone toward the commitment to remove plastic from packaging by the end of 2025.
Longevity & Upgrades
Durability
Ceramic Shield. IP68 water and dust resistance. Tested under controlled laboratory conditions, resists submersion in up to 6 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and might decrease as a result of normal wear.
Longevity
Designed to be long-lasting. Provides regular software updates to keep devices current. Expanded access to safe, reliable, and secure repairs by increasing the number of Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs). Apple Trade In ensures devices have a long life or are recycled for free.
Energy & Emissions
Energy
Uses 60% less energy than the energy efficiency standard. Uses software and power-efficient components that intelligently manage power consumption. Builds low-carbon energy projects and engages customers to support grid decarbonization. Over 30% of manufacturing electricity is sourced from supplier low-carbon energy projects, supported by Apple’s Supplier Clean Energy Program. Power adapter efficiency: 87.49% (100V), 88.06% (115V), 87.81% (230V). Power adapter no-load: 0.04W. Low-carbon electricity refers to both renewable electricity and other fossil-free projects. Supplier Clean Energy Program helps suppliers transition electricity use to 100 percent renewable sources.
Carbon Footprint / Emissions
48 kg
Carbon Neutral
Goals
Progress toward carbon neutral. Apple’s goal is for Apple and all products to be carbon neutral by 2030, reducing total carbon emissions by at least 75 percent against its 2015 baseline. It will apply credits from high-quality carbon removal projects to achieve carbon neutrality for remaining emissions. GHG reductions achieved are greater than 30%. Transitioning to 100% low-carbon electricity for Apple production is underway.