Is Apple’s phasing out of chargers, which started with the iPhone 12, greenwashing or not? This discussion has now gained a strong argument. Because analysts have calculated how much money the group earns from the saved chargers, the resulting smaller boxes and the sales of optional chargers.
- CSS Insight analysts estimate that Apple made $6.5 billion by dropping accessories
- The period under review starts with the iPhone 12, i.e. at the end of 2019
- Analysis also takes into account higher costs for iPhones and wired headphones
The fact that Apple delivered its iPhone 12 without a power supply caused harsh criticism online at the time. However, it is now normal for premium phones to be shipped in tiny boxes without a USB-C charger. According to the narrative of all manufacturers, this should be better for the environment, since most people already have a charger at home. According to the Daily Mail, the analysis by CSS Insight confirms a suspicion that has been resonating since 2019.
Because overall, Apple earned $6.5 billion from the omission of accessories and the resulting savings. As the Daily Mail writes, this sum results from the saved costs for chargers and headphones, the additional sales to people who lack a charger after buying a smartphone and the reduced costs for smaller packaging and more efficient logistics.
Saved over 2 million tons of Co2 emissions, according to Apple
Overall, Apple’s decision to ditch the usual iPhone accessories would have saved over 2 million tons of CO2 emissions, the Daily Mail quoted an Apple spokesman as saying. This is the equivalent of 500,000 cars being taken off the road annually. However, it is still unclear exactly how many tons of electronic waste Apple saves in the process.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max also comes without a power supply! / © NextPit
What is interesting, however, is that Apple basically caused this itself before omitting the chargers. Because before the iPhone 12, 5-watt chargers were always included, with which users could not use the maximum charging power for their smartphone. The purchase of another charger was therefore necessary before the end of 2019.
What do you all mean? Are you convinced by Apple’s environmental measures or would you rather have powerful chargers in the power supply? And do you think this topic will come to an end at some point?