Apple released its latest annual supplier responsibility report for 2021, just like every other year. This latest report focuses on Apple's response to COVID-19, all the other challenges the past year brought, and the usual information on supplier responsibility.

Apple Releases Its Latest Supplier Responsibility Report

Apple published its latest annual supplier responsibility report for 2021. The report features the usual details on supplier responsibility, but also highlights Apple's response and policies regarding COVID-19.

Sabih Khan, Apple's COO, provides the report's introduction. It starts by explaining how Apple worked with suppliers to "reimagine every detail" of important processes, with "maximum care for people’s health" in response to COVID-19.

A worker on the Apple assembly line wearing a mask and gloves in response to COVID-19
Image Credit: Apple

Khan explains this included rearranging factory floors to enable social distancing, investing in masks, face shields, and sanitizer for the assembly line, changes to working hours to reduce the number of people on-site at a time, and deep cleaning protocols.

In the introduction, Khan also mentions that everything Apple learned in the past year will be considered in new policies on "infectious disease preparedness and response", which Apple will uphold in the long term.

Despite lockdowns and global safety measures limiting travel, Apple says it conducted 1121 supplier assessments across 53 countries last year. The company reiterated it has zero tolerance for forced labor of any kind, and said in 2020 its audits found no evidence of involuntary labor.

Apple's Supplier Responsibility Details

COVID-19 aside, Apple's report goes on to explain the usual details on supplier responsibility. This includes an insight to Apple's numbers for the year, as well as environmental and ethical reviews of Apple's suppliers.

Apple's graphic showing a summary of the numbers for 2020 in the report.
Image Credit: Apple

As we've seen over the past year, Apple continues to encourage suppliers to improve their environmental impacts. Apple says it helps suppliers reduce energy use by identifying hotspots in factories, and replacing outdated heating and cooling systems.

The company says six of it's participating suppliers saw iPhone manufacturing energy usage decrease by 20 percent over the last three years. Apple also launched similar programs to cut energy use in the AirPods, iPad and Apple Watch supply chains.

Related: What Is Greenwashing and How Does It Affect Your Tech?

Notably in the report, Apple also responded to allegations of forced labor incidents in Apple’s supply chain. Apple explains that it found no evidence of forced labor or underage child labor, despite finding one case of this in last year's report.

Apple's Ongoing Environmental Commitment

Although Apple's 2021 supplier responsibility report focused quite heavily on COVID-19, one of the key takeaways is Apple's ongoing commitment to its environmental impact.

Consumers have seen Apple's environmental focus with figures in its keynote events and packaging changes. It's nice to know that Apple also takes further action behind-the-scenes with its suppliers.

Image Credit: Apple