Apple Gives Crash Courses on Solar Farms, Zero Waste, and More in Series of Earth Day Videos

Apple has uploaded four videos to its YouTube channel ahead of Earth Day on April 22, with each providing a crash course on environmental topics.

In the solar farm video, Apple's environmental chief Lisa Jackson gives a crash course on how the company's 40-megawatt solar farms in China produce enough electricity for all of its offices and retail stores in the country, while leftover energy that reaches the ground grows the grass underneath to feed yaks.


In the zero waste video, Apple explains how none of its 14 final assembly facilities in China send any waste to landfills. The humorous video shows how the zero waste achievement supposedly started when Apple employee John Reynolds in iPhone Product Operations visited a factory in Guanlan, China.


In the third video, Apple's head of environmental technologies Rob Guzzo and toxicology expert Art Fong explain how the company makes about 30 gallons worth of human sweat every year in order to ensure the Apple Watch and other products are to safe to use in contact with your skin while working out.


In the fourth video, Apple's vice president of real estate Dan Whisenhunt explains how the company's new Apple Park campus has one of the world's largest naturally ventilated buildings. The building uses outside air and water to cool itself naturally, reducing its cooling load by 35 percent a year.


Mashable spoke with Apple about the ads ahead of their release, noting that the animations in each video are hand drawn by illustrator James Blagden. Apple CEO Tim Cook also makes a subtle appearance in each video in a "Where's Waldo" way. Watch the videos and see if you can spot him.

Apple's other Earth Day initiatives include a commitment to stop mining the earth for rare minerals and metals, retail employees wearing green shirts, and green-tipped Apple logos at its retail stores. Apple also released its 2017 Environmental Responsibility Report detailing its 2016 carbon footprint.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...

Top Rated Comments

happydude Avatar
109 months ago
say what you want about the good and evil of giant multinational corporations, i'm just glad in this aspect, apple has chosen to be on the side of green technology, zero waste, etc.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NinjaHERO Avatar
109 months ago
Always nice to know a company this big and rich tries to do all they can for the environment.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
happydude Avatar
109 months ago
Meh, Apple can't make a single statement without being self ingratiating. Apple can't act without bettering their cause, even to help improve the planet. Apple could solve several world problems with the amount of money they have, but unless it can directly contribute to Apple's profit Apple won't spend a dime unless it benefits them directly. The fact they even mention Apple Watch is so obvious a desperation to sell more of this product and use any excuse to promote it.
well, same for any company trying to do social, environmental, or other good. they're a corporation with a legal responsibility to maximize profit. if they're going to extra lengths to go green, they have to make some hay about it - toot their own horn, make themselves look good, help drive people to buy their products vs. a "dirtier" company's similar product.

other examples: do you think target would give a % of it's profit away to charity without talking about it? mcdonlad's ronald mcdonald house. koch industries foundational giving. so many more.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nvmls Avatar
109 months ago
Make your own sweat as in sweatshops?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NT1440 Avatar
109 months ago
Meanwhile, it has been about 3.3 Earth Days since the last Mac Pro release, about 2.5 Earth Days since the last Mac mini update, and 1.5 Earth Days since the last iMac update. Seems that Apple would rather preach and preen about saving the planet than actually do their job.
You're right, clearly they should stick the environmental department content creators on the engineering teams...that'll speed them up. :rolleyes:
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Glideslope Avatar
109 months ago
Cute, but too Deep for most Americans. :apple:
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)