Supply Chain Innovation

Innovation for all.

Business can and should be a force for good. Apple products are designed in California and built by people all over the world. We strive to uphold our high standards everywhere we operate, supporting the people and communities across our global supply chain, and working to protect the planet we all share.

A world of learning.

Professional development, United States

Feature

Education is a powerful equalizing force.

The Apple Supplier Employee Development Fund is our $50 million commitment to further invest in the people in our supply chain — and to innovate and expand on our long-running education programs.

Through the Fund, supplier employees learn about their workplace rights and gain opportunities to develop new skills such as coding, smart manufacturing fundamentals, language learning, health training and leadership development.

Since the Fund’s launch, we have delivered more than 5.7 million training and education sessions, with our programs reaching more than eight million people since 2008. Through the Fund, we are providing people all over the world with opportunities to advance in their jobs or explore new job paths.

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Accountability
from day one.

Logistics and repair, United States

Employees wearing safety glasses and gloves stand by a pallet of boxes in a warehouse

Feature

Employees wearing safety glasses and gloves stand by a pallet of boxes in a warehouse

Logistics and repair, United States

Apple products are designed in California and made by people all over the world. Thousands of businesses and millions of people in more than 50 countries and regions are part of our supply chain, contributing their skills to help build, deliver, repair and recycle our products.

Our suppliers are required to meet the strict standards of the Apple Supplier Code of Conduct, no matter where they operate or what type of goods, services or labour they provide to Apple. The Code’s requirements cover labour and human rights, health and safety, the environment, ethics and management practices.

We are committed to holding ourselves and our suppliers accountable to high standards. This includes working to make sure our strict standards are met before production begins, conducting regular assessments of our suppliers’ performance and actively listening to supplier employees.

Assessments, conducted by independent third-party auditors, thoroughly examine a supplier’s operations through worker and management interviews, detailed site walkthroughs and comprehensive documentation reviews. In addition to planned assessments, we also conduct unannounced visits, where the supplier has no advance knowledge of the auditor’s arrival.

How we hold suppliers accountable.

Learn more about our approach to due diligence and accountability
View PDF
  • 893

    assessments of supplier facilities conducted in 2024, with more than 22 percent being unannounced visits

  • 125

    new or expanding supplier facilities that were assessed in 2024 for their ability to meet our requirements before entering our supply chain

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People

Labour and human rights at the foundation.

Logistics and repair, United States

An employee stands in a logistics and repair centre, smiling at the camera

People

An employee stands in a logistics and repair centre, smiling at the camera

Logistics and repair, United States

Everyone has the right to work in a safe and healthy environment where they’re treated with dignity and respect. We strive to protect these rights with every decision we make, including the suppliers we choose to work with, the materials we select for our products, and the processes and equipment used to make them.

Our standards apply globally, regardless of where people live or work or which job they do. We require our suppliers to educate their employees on their workplace rights, including how to share feedback directly with us if those rights aren’t being respected. With the help of experts, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and workers themselves, we consistently strengthen our requirements and programs to meet the needs and uphold the rights of people across our supply chain.

  • 2.5M+

    supplier employees trained on their workplace rights in 2024

  • 1.4M+

    supplier employees’ working hours reviewed weekly to verify compliance with our standards

More about People in Apple’s Supply Chain

People

We act on feedback.

Component manufacturing, China mainland

Two people sit facing each other at a cafeteria table and talk

People

Two people sit facing each other at a cafeteria table and talk

Component manufacturing, China mainland

We encourage everyone across our supply chain to share feedback directly with Apple. That’s why we’re focused on ways to amplify their voices. We interview and survey hundreds of thousands of supplier employees each year and provide hotlines, as well as a feedback form on this website, so they can anonymously raise concerns to us. We use this feedback to support our suppliers in strengthening their operations and management practices, providing the best possible experience for their employees.

In addition to addressing the feedback we receive from supplier employees, we promptly investigate any allegations we receive, with Apple experts typically arriving onsite within 24 to 48 hours. Apple does not tolerate retaliation, and any supplier that retaliates against an employee for raising a concern faces immediate consequences, up to and including termination of their business with Apple. We require our suppliers to promptly address any issues that arise, and we regularly check on their progress until we confirm that all necessary actions have been taken.

If suppliers are unwilling or unable to correct any issues, they risk removal from our supply chain. Since 2009, we have removed 25 manufacturing supplier facilities and 229 smelters and refiners from our supply chain for failing to meet our standards.

  • 1.3M+

    supplier employees directly engaged by Apple about their workplace experiences in 2024

  • 7.5K+

    improvements made to supplier workplaces in 2024 based on employee feedback

  • 665K+

    people at 42 supplier sites reached by our hotline awareness campaign, which provides information on how to raise workplace concerns

  • 37K+

    supplier employees contacted after interviews to ensure that they didn’t experience retaliation

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People

The strongest standards in hiring.

Product personalization, United States

Two hands wearing latex gloves hold up an AirPods case

People

Two hands wearing latex gloves hold up an AirPods case

Product personalization, United States

Apple does not tolerate forced labour. Our policies that prevent forced labour apply globally, regardless of a person’s job, location or how they were hired. We require that job recruitment processes be free and fair, prohibiting practices such as charging fees to secure a job — even where it’s allowed by law. We’ve partnered with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency, to create easy-to-use tools that help suppliers recruit people ethically and with respect for their human rights. Our work to prevent forced labour extends throughout a worker’s employment journey.

Learn more about our efforts to prevent forced labour
View PDF
  • 0

    instances found where people were forced to work in our supply chain in 2024

  • 1.4M+

    supplier employees covered by responsible labour recruitment due diligence training since 2019

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Education

Accessibility by design.

Vocational Education for Persons with Disabilities, China mainland

Three employees sit together as one signs to another

Education

Three employees sit together as one signs to another

Vocational Education for Persons with Disabilities, China mainland

We believe that the best technology works for everyone and that focusing on accessibility extends to making jobs in our supply chain open to more people.

In 2022, we launched the Vocational Education for Persons with Disabilities program to help our suppliers create manufacturing environments that are more accessible, providing community and accommodations for people who would benefit from tailored support.

In addition to modifying physical workplaces, participating suppliers across the United States, China mainland, India and Vietnam are also delivering training to create inclusive environments and building community through extracurricular activities and gatherings.

Participants in the program hold a variety of manufacturing roles that were previously not accessible, with some advancing to leadership roles in their facilities.

Ground shot of two employees communicate in sign language with each other
Three people sitting at a table in a restaurant, communicate in sign language with each other

Vocational Education for Persons with Disabilities, China mainland

  • 18K+

    participants across 56 supplier facilities in the Vocational Education for Persons with Disabilities program since its launch in 2022

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Education

Skills that open doors.

Robotics training, China mainland

Two employees wearing safety hats and uniform shirts stand by a work cage control box, where one points out a button to the other

Education

Two employees wearing safety hats and uniform shirts stand by a work cage control box, where one points out a button to the other

Robotics training, China mainland

Through the Apple Education Hub, part of the Apple Supplier Employee Development Fund, people across our supply chain are able to access technical education and resources on topics such as personal development, leadership, computer science, coding, robotics, recycling and advanced manufacturing. These programs enrich supplier employees’ workplace experiences and provide the skills needed to pursue opportunities in highly technical fields. For example, graduates of our Swift coding program have launched apps on the Apple App Store, meeting our high bar required for publication.

We partner with leading experts such as the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) in the United States, Zhejiang University in China mainland and St. John’s Medical College in India to ensure that our programs are innovative, meaningful and connected to relevant opportunities in local job markets.

Two employees in an iMac assembly warehouse talk with each other

iMac assembly, Ireland

An employee wearing protective earbuds in a component manufacturing facility smiles at a coworker

Component manufacturing, India

  • 74K+

    supplier employees who have graduated from our Swift coding program since 2017

More about Education in Apple’s Supply Chain

Education

Health starts with knowledge.

Health education training, Vietnam

An instructor in a white lab coat teaches at the front of a classroom full of students

Education

An instructor in a white lab coat teaches at the front of a classroom full of students

Health education training, Vietnam

We’re committed to cultivating a supply chain where people can thrive — inside and outside work. This means providing the people in our supply chain with the tools needed to focus on their physical and mental health. Since 2017, millions of supplier employees have benefited from training on essential topics such as nutrition, reproductive health, early disease detection and mental health. These programs are tailored to meet the needs of people at each participating site, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to take control of their own health, which can be shared with their communities to multiply the impact.

Several employees sit in chairs with full-coverage work suits, but three are turned toward the camera and smiling

Component manufacturing, India

  • 5.8M+

    people reached by our health and wellness programs since 2017

  • 54K+

    participants in our mental wellbeing programs in 2024

More about Education in Apple’s Supply Chain

Education

Swift learning.

Apple Education Hub, China mainland

Two people talk as they look down at an iPhone that one of them holds and navigates

Education

Two people talk as they look down at an iPhone that one of them holds and navigates

Apple Education Hub, China mainland

Coding is an important skill for many of the jobs of today and tomorrow. Through our coding program, supplier employees have the opportunity to learn Swift — a powerful Apple programming language for our platforms.

Participants begin with coding fundamentals before moving on to the advanced level, where they learn how to design and code their apps. Many participants have created apps for use at their own facilities, with some even creating apps that meet the high standards required for publication on the Apple App Store.

Adobe RGB color graph open on an iPhone screen

Chromaticity Assistant is one of the apps developed by supplier employees in our Swift coding program. It helps manage and monitor the colour quality of displays during manufacturing.

  • 340K+

    supplier employees have participated in our coding program since 2017

  • 25

    apps created by program participants and published on the App Store

More about Education in Apple’s Supply Chain

Health and Safety

Advanced. Manufacturing.

Aluminum recycling, China mainland

Two employees wearing safety hats and uniforms look at digital screen with control handles at the bottom

Health and Safety

Two employees wearing safety hats and uniforms look at digital screen with control handles at the bottom

Aluminum recycling, China mainland

As we continue to drive innovation in our products, the machines and facilities used to build them become more advanced. This is why we’re regularly reviewing and strengthening our machine safety programs to help keep the people who operate manufacturing equipment safe on the job. We require suppliers to design safer equipment from the start and to conduct regular trainings on topics such as the use of safety devices, inspection basics, automation safety and hazards associated with moving parts. We also require suppliers to regularly inspect equipment and safety procedures to confirm that machines remain in safe working condition and that the rules put in place to keep people safe are being enforced and followed. If we do find issues, we work with suppliers to correct them and prevent them from happening again.

Two gloved hands hold a silicon wafer
Three employees in full-body work suits stand collaborate around a silicon manufacturing machine

Silicon manufacturing, United States

  • 800+

    supplier sites enrolled in our enhanced machine safety training since 2024

More about Health and Safety in Apple’s Supply Chain

Health and Safety

Safety built in.

Material recovery, United States

An employee wearing safety gloves, glasses and mask handles materials at a facility

Health and Safety

An employee wearing safety gloves, glasses and mask handles materials at a facility

Material recovery, United States

Everyone has the right to be safe at work. We work hard to verify that the materials, machines and processes used to make our products safeguard the health and safety of the people in our supply chain and the planet we all share. We consistently update our industry-leading health and safety standards and confirm that our suppliers meet those standards through regular inspections. We also partner with our suppliers to build a workplace culture that puts health and safety at the forefront every day, including by requiring training and providing ways for employees to speak up if they identify opportunities to improve safety practices.

  • 1.7K+

    supplier sites participated in safety training since 2022

  • 108

    assessments conducted in 2024 to validate that supplier facilities were ready to meet our standards before manufacturing started

More about Health and Safety in Apple’s Supply Chain

Health and Safety

Leading the way on smarter chemistry.

Apple Watch assembly, Vietnam

An employee in full safety uniform works at a station at an Apple Watch assembly facility

Health and Safety

An employee in full safety uniform works at a station at an Apple Watch assembly facility

Apple Watch assembly, Vietnam

Consideration for the safety of supplier employees and customers guides the decisions we make about the materials we use in our products. We require our suppliers to follow our industry-leading chemical safety standards as we work to protect employees, communities and the environment against chemical hazards. This includes working together to use safer materials in our products and manufacturing processes, such as in the cleaners used during product assembly. By collaborating with leading experts and nonprofit organizations, we’re accelerating the adoption of safer chemicals across the electronics industry, fostering safer working conditions for people far beyond our own supply chain.

Safer Choice U.S. EPA Partner of the Year 2024 logo

For a fourth year, Apple has been recognized as a Safer Choice Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for our work in improving chemical safety in electronics manufacturing.

  • 1K+

    suppliers that reported data on the chemicals used in their facilities in 2024, allowing Apple to validate compliance with safety standards

  • 200+

    new safer cleaners approved for use in our supply chain

More about Health and Safety in Apple’s Supply Chain

Environment

A carbon-neutral supply chain by 2030.

Apple Watch assembly, Vietnam

Gloved hands hold the base of an Apple Watch backside up

Environment

Gloved hands hold the base of an Apple Watch backside up

Apple Watch assembly, Vietnam

Apple’s worldwide corporate operations have been carbon-neutral since 2020, and we’ve set a goal to become carbon-neutral across our entire carbon footprint by 2030.

Reaching our Apple 2030 goal means we first need to continue reducing the carbon emissions from our manufacturing processes. To make this happen, we’re designing our products to be less carbon-intensive, increasing our use of recycled and renewable materials, improving material efficiency and transitioning our entire supply chain to 100 percent renewable energy. We’ll then use carbon removal to address the small amount of remaining emissions, starting with high-quality nature-based solutions, like those in the Apple Restore Fund.

We’ve called on our suppliers to decarbonize their Apple production by 2030, and we’re helping them get there through targeted programs and training to improve energy efficiency and identify sources of high-quality renewable energy.

Bird’s-eye view of a masked employee packing up an Apple Watch

Apple Watch assembly, Vietnam

Learn more about Apple 2030
  • 100%

    of Apple suppliers aiming to be carbon-neutral for their Apple production by 2030

  • Nearly 18

    gigawatts of renewable energy sourced by Apple suppliers in 2024

More about Environment in Apple’s Supply Chain

Environment

Environmental rights are human rights.

Solar array, United States

An employee in a safety hat inspects solar array that is in a field with hills in the near horizon

Environment

An employee in a safety hat inspects solar array that is in a field

Solar array, United States

Our approach to protecting the planet considers not only the environmental implications of every decision we make, but also the impact of those decisions on people, particularly those living and working in communities disproportionately affected by climate change. This is why we consider our supply chain in the context of the local communities where our suppliers operate.

We collaborate with local partners — including companies, NGOs and government agencies — to help address the diverse environmental needs of these communities, from improving water quality across entire watersheds to strengthening resilience to extreme weather. We piloted a program with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to help a small community in the Philippines better withstand the impacts of repeated typhoons through the construction of resilient shelters. We share learnings from these projects across and beyond our supply chain, helping benefit more communities around the world.

More about Environment in Apple’s Supply Chain

Environment

A zero-waste mindset.

iPhone assembly, China mainland

Two employees wearing full-coverage work suits handle iPhone parts in an assembly facility

Environment

Two employees wearing full-coverage work suits handle iPhone parts in an assembly facility

iPhone assembly, China mainland

We’re dedicated to minimizing resource use and waste as we build our products. We require our suppliers to avoid sending waste to landfills by implementing recycling and reuse programs, and developing innovative materials and recycling strategies. Today, all established final assembly sites where Apple products are assembled and packaged are Zero Waste Certified.

Water is a critical resource shared by people and ecosystems around the world, and we’re working to protect it for future generations. Through our Clean Water Program, we’re helping suppliers reduce their water usage, promote water recycling and prevent water pollution. Since the launch of this program in 2013, 29 of our suppliers’ facilities have achieved certification through the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS), the world’s leading water stewardship organization. Earning this certification requires suppliers to adopt industry-leading water conservation and stewardship practices while also engaging with their community to protect resources across their local water basin.

  • 600K+

    tons of waste diverted from landfills by Apple suppliers in 2024

  • 340B+

    litres of fresh water saved through the Apple Clean Water Program since 2013

More about Environment in Apple’s Supply Chain

Environment

Our journey to 100% recycled or renewable.

Materials recovered by Daisy, Apple’s iPhone disassembly robot, United States

A pile of disassembled device materials

Environment

A pile of disassembled device materials

Materials recovered by Daisy, Apple’s iPhone disassembly robot, United States

Our goal is to one day build our products using only recycled or renewable materials and to end our reliance on mining. Each year, we move closer to that goal, with more components being made with 100 percent recycled or renewable materials. Effectively disassembling and recycling our products after use is a key part of our work to support a circular economy. These processes, led by Apple’s disassembly robots Daisy, Dave and Taz, help recover valuable materials that can be used again, making the best use of limited resources and enabling us to design and build the next generation of devices to be even better for people and the planet. We help our suppliers efficiently and safely recycle our products by providing Recycler Guides and conducting assessments to verify that they’re meeting our standards.

We maintain strict standards for the responsible sourcing of materials — whether primary or recycled. Although Apple does not source primary material directly from mine sites, we work closely with our suppliers to uphold our standards and support partners that work to improve conditions in and around mining communities.

Learn more about our efforts to responsibly source materials
View PDF
  • 100%

    responsibly sourced key materials in batteries, whether primary or recycled

  • 100%

    recycled cobalt targeted to be used in all Apple-designed batteries by the end of 2025*

  • 100%

    recycled rare earth elements targeted to be used in all magnets across Apple products by the end of 2025

Learn more about our recycling efforts

More about Environment in Apple’s Supply Chain

Read our 2025 reports to learn more about our dedication to people and the planet.

View our reports
An employee wearing a high-visibility vest looks at camera
Logistics, Czech Republic

More from Apple on our global supply chain.

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We welcome your thoughts, questions and ideas about our global supply chain.

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Our values lead the way.