When will Apple completely eliminate plastic from its packaging?

Apple accelerated its timeline and will eliminate 100% of plastic from packaging by the end of 2024—originally scheduled for 2025. This means all new Apple products launched after 2024 will come in completely plastic-free packaging. The company is also phasing out leather products and aims for net-zero climate impact by 2030, with key metals like aluminum, cobalt, and gold sourced from recycled materials. Over 300 suppliers will use 100% clean energy for manufacturing Apple products by 2030.

What is Apple using instead of plastic packaging?

Apple is transitioning to molded pulp packaging made from bagasse (sugarcane fiber) and bamboo fiber. Products like Beats Studio Pro headphones and Vision Pro already use molded pulp inserts as part of Apple's 100% de-plasticized packaging goal. The iPad packaging is now 97-99% fiber-based after eliminating plastic outer film, and new iPad Pro/Air models no longer include the plastic Apple logo sticker. This shift to recyclable, biodegradable materials represents Apple's commitment to sustainable packaging solutions.

Why is molded pulp packaging better for the environment than Apple's old plastic packaging?

Unlike the plastic wrap and plastic packaging used for older products like iPhone 5 and iPod (which weren't biodegradable and contributed to landfill waste), molded pulp packaging is fully recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable. Made from bagasse and bamboo fiber—renewable agricultural waste—it eliminates petroleum-based plastics entirely. Molded pulp also reduces carbon footprint in production and can be efficiently recycled by pulping to create new packaging, supporting circular economy principles that align with Apple's net-zero 2030 goal.

Will other tech companies follow Apple's lead on sustainable packaging?

Yes, major technology giants are already following Apple's example. Companies like Sony (smartphones and earbuds), Microsoft (Ocean Mouse), Dyson (hair dryers), and others are adopting molded pulp packaging solutions. With Apple demonstrating that eco-friendly packaging doesn't compromise product protection or premium aesthetics, the industry trend is accelerating. As environmentally friendly packaging becomes standard, molded pulp—being recyclable, biodegradable, and cost-effective at scale—will be applied across more product categories, driving sustainable development throughout the tech industry.

Apple to drop plastic packaging by the end of 2024

1. Apples Sustainability Commitment

2. Collaboration with Supply Chain Partners

3. Molded Pulp Packaging as a Solution

4. Emissions Reduction and Use of Fiber-based Materials

5. Environmental Leadership and Future of Eco-friendly Packaging

6. Transition from Plastic Packaging in Past Products

Apple's Sustainability Commitment

Apple announced at its Wonderlust event that its plan to eliminate 100% of plastic from its packaging, originally scheduled for 2025, has been brought forward to this year. The tech giant claims it will phase out all plastic packaging by the end of 2024 and will gradually phase out leather products. By 2030, Apple aims to reduce the climate impact of its devices to net zero, with key metals used in construction, such as aluminum, cobalt, and gold, coming from recycled sources.

Collaboration with Supply Chain Partners

To achieve its low-carbon goals, Apple has begun collaborating with its supply chain partners to research and develop alternative solutions to plastic packaging. By 2030, more than 300 suppliers will be using 100% clean energy to manufacture Apple products.

Molded Pulp Packaging as a Solution

Molded pulp packaging, as a high-quality solution for replacing and limiting plastic, has become the best choice for Apple to achieve its goal of low-carbon, de-plasticized packaging. Apple's Beats Studio Pro headphones use pulp molding packaging made from bagasse and bamboo fiber. Similarly, Apple’s new Vision Pro featured a molded pulp insert made from bagasse to support Apple’s 100% de-plasticized packaging goal by 2024.

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Emissions Reduction and Use of Fiber-based Materials

Since 2015, Apple has reduced its overall emissions by 45%, maintaining its leadership in green energy and recyclable materials. The 2021 iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro cases no longer use plastic film, reducing plastic use by 600 tonnes. In 2022, Apple redesigned the iPad packaging to eliminate plastic outer film, making it 97% fiber-based, while the new iPad Pro packaging is 99% fiber-based. On May 8, 2024, Apple released new iPad Pro and iPad Air packaging that no longer includes the plastic Apple logo sticker.

Environmental Leadership and Future of Eco-friendly Packaging

Apple has demonstrated its strong commitment to environmental protection and its responsibility as a technology leader. With major technology giants turning to environmentally friendly packaging, molded pulp packaging, as an eco-friendly, recyclable material, will become increasingly prominent and applied in more areas, injecting new vitality into the sustainable development of the industry.

Transition from Plastic Packaging in Past Products

In the past, Apple’s iPhone 5 and iPod were packaged in apple plastic wrap and apple plastic packaging, which, while sleek and attractive, were not environmentally friendly. These apple plastics have since become outdated as Apple transitions to apple sustainable packaging. Today, Apple focuses on recyclable materials, moving away from unprocessed apple plastic openair methods to more eco-friendly and apple packaging recyclable solutions, reflecting its commitment to sustainability.

FAQ · Questions You May Ask

When will Apple completely eliminate plastic from its packaging?

Apple accelerated its timeline and will eliminate 100% of plastic from packaging by the end of 2024—originally scheduled for 2025. This means all new Apple products launched after 2024 will come in completely plastic-free packaging. The company is also phasing out leather products and aims for net-zero climate impact by 2030, with key metals like aluminum, cobalt, and gold sourced from recycled materials. Over 300 suppliers will use 100% clean energy for manufacturing Apple products by 2030.
What is Apple using instead of plastic packaging?

Apple is transitioning to molded pulp packaging made from bagasse (sugarcane fiber) and bamboo fiber. Products like Beats Studio Pro headphones and Vision Pro already use molded pulp inserts as part of Apple's 100% de-plasticized packaging goal. The iPad packaging is now 97-99% fiber-based after eliminating plastic outer film, and new iPad Pro/Air models no longer include the plastic Apple logo sticker. This shift to recyclable, biodegradable materials represents Apple's commitment to sustainable packaging solutions.
How much plastic has Apple already eliminated from its packaging?

Apple has made significant progress: the 2021 iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro cases eliminated plastic film, reducing plastic use by 600 tonnes annually. Since 2015, Apple reduced overall emissions by 45% while maintaining leadership in green energy and recyclable materials. The 2022 iPad packaging redesign removed plastic outer film to become 97% fiber-based, with iPad Pro packaging reaching 99% fiber content. These changes demonstrate measurable impact across Apple's entire product line.
Why is molded pulp packaging better for the environment than Apple's old plastic packaging?

Unlike the plastic wrap and plastic packaging used for older products like iPhone 5 and iPod (which weren't biodegradable and contributed to landfill waste), molded pulp packaging is fully recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable. Made from bagasse and bamboo fiber—renewable agricultural waste—it eliminates petroleum-based plastics entirely. Molded pulp also reduces carbon footprint in production and can be efficiently recycled by pulping to create new packaging, supporting circular economy principles that align with Apple's net-zero 2030 goal.
Will other tech companies follow Apple's lead on sustainable packaging?

Yes, major technology giants are already following Apple's example. Companies like Sony (smartphones and earbuds), Microsoft (Ocean Mouse), Dyson (hair dryers), and others are adopting molded pulp packaging solutions. With Apple demonstrating that eco-friendly packaging doesn't compromise product protection or premium aesthetics, the industry trend is accelerating. As environmentally friendly packaging becomes standard, molded pulp—being recyclable, biodegradable, and cost-effective at scale—will be applied across more product categories, driving sustainable development throughout the tech industry.