Sofia Martinez
Apple sources materials for its iPhones from suppliers in 43 countries and six continents, making its supply chain incredibly complex and far-reaching. The original iPhone, released in 2007, featured a plastic display, but due to complaints about scratches, Apple switched to a glass display. The company has since been working to incorporate recycled and responsibly sourced materials into its products, such as using bio-based plastic for the cover glass frame of the iPhone XS and XR models.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic display | The original iPhone from 2007 featured a 3.5-inch plastic display |
| Switch to glass | Apple switched to a glass display shortly before the original iPhone went on sale |
| Reason | Steve Jobs wanted to switch to glass because the plastic display was getting scratched |
| Glass supplier | Corning |
| Plastic content | The iPhone XS uses cover glass that is 32% bio-based plastic |
| Plastic content | The iPhone Xs and Xr use 35% post-consumer recycled plastic in their speaker enclosures |
| Plastic content | The iPhone Xs and Xr use 32% bio-based plastic for the cover glass frame |
| Plastic suppliers | Arkema, DSM Engineering Plastics |
| Arkema facilities | France, the United States, China |
| DSM Engineering Plastics facilities | Netherlands, Taiwan, China |
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What You'll Learn
The original iPhone's plastic screen
The original iPhone, introduced by Steve Jobs in January 2007, featured a 3.5-inch plastic display. However, when the phone went on sale in June of that year, it had a glass screen. The switch from plastic to glass was a last-minute decision by Jobs, who was concerned about scratches on the plastic screen.
Just one day after the iPhone was unveiled, Jobs complained to Apple COO Jeff Williams about scratches that had appeared on the plastic screen from carrying it in his pocket. "We need glass," he said, according to Williams. This sudden change presented a significant challenge, as the glass Jobs wanted did not yet exist on the market.
The day after sharing his concerns, Williams received a call from Corning CEO Wendell Weeks. Weeks recounted that Jobs had called him and said, "your glass sucks." However, Weeks also suggested using an experimental glass technology they had in their R&D lab. With only six months until the iPhone's release, Apple and Corning raced against time to make the switch to glass, a move that would ultimately revolutionize the smartphone industry.
The result of this collaboration was the development of Gorilla Glass, a scratch-resistant glass that shipped on the first-generation iPhone. This glass not only enhanced the iPhone's durability but also defined the user experience, with many praising the tactile experience of using the touchscreen. The success of Gorilla Glass led to its widespread adoption by other smartphone manufacturers, reshaping the smartphone market and establishing glass as the new standard for screens.
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Apple's switch to glass
Apple's switch from plastic to glass for the iPhone's display occurred in 2007, just 11 days before the original iPhone went on sale. The plastic display was revealed by Steve Jobs in January 2007, but the phone that went on sale in June of that year featured a glass screen.
The story behind this switch was recounted by Jeff Williams, Apple's Chief Operating Officer, in 2017. According to Williams, the day after Jobs showed the plastic iPhone, he complained about scratches that had formed on the display from carrying it in his pocket. "We need glass," Jobs said.
Williams played a pivotal role in bringing a glass surface to the iPhone, which significantly influenced the design of modern smartphones. He worked closely with Corning, a glass manufacturer, to develop scratch-resistant glass for the iPhone, which became known as Gorilla Glass.
Apple's decision to switch to glass was not without challenges. Both Apple and Corning teams had to work diligently under intense time pressure to make the glass solution viable. Their efforts resulted in a significant improvement in the iPhone's display, enhancing its durability and aesthetic appeal.
While the specific sources of Apple's plastic for iPhone production are not publicly disclosed, it is known that Apple contracts with companies like Foxconn for manufacturing. The company generally obtains raw materials from various countries and suppliers, making it challenging to trace the exact origins of their plastic components.
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Plastic sourced from third-party suppliers
Apple sources plastic for its iPhones from third-party suppliers. The company has a complex and far-reaching supply chain, with suppliers in 43 countries across six continents. Apple uses dozens of third-party suppliers to produce iPhone components, and these suppliers, in turn, rely on their own network of third-party suppliers for parts and raw materials.
While Apple does not disclose the specific suppliers or the exact parts they produce, it does publish a list of its suppliers. This lack of transparency is partly due to trade secrets, as revealing sourcing information could make it easier for competitors to replicate Apple's products. Additionally, some raw materials sourced by third-party suppliers may come from controversial areas of the world, which could be another reason for Apple's discretion.
Apple has made efforts to improve the sustainability of its plastic sourcing. For instance, the iPhone XS features cover glass made with 32% bio-based plastic, and its speaker enclosures contain 35% post-consumer recycled plastic. Apple is attempting to reduce its reliance on newly mined materials and is exploring ways to incorporate more recycled and responsibly sourced materials into its products.
The company has also invested in the development of innovative materials, such as flexible glass for foldable displays, and has worked closely with suppliers to meet this need. For example, Apple collaborated with Corning to develop the scratch-resistant "Gorilla Glass" for the first-generation iPhone.
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Plastic from controversial areas
Apple sources plastic for its iPhones from a variety of suppliers and countries, making it challenging to trace the exact origins of the plastic used. The company has a complex and far-reaching supply chain, working with suppliers in 43 countries across six continents. This diversity of sources includes regions that may be considered controversial due to ethical concerns.
One such controversial area is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where cobalt, a key component in iPhone batteries, has been linked to labour rights abuses and hazardous working conditions. Apple has since taken steps to address these issues by suspending purchases from artisanal mines in the region and adding cobalt to its list of conflict minerals requiring audits.
Additionally, tantalum, historically sourced from the DRC, has been associated with conflict and human rights violations, including the use of child labour and slaves in mines. Apple has made efforts to distance itself from these practices, announcing in 2014 that its tantalum suppliers were conflict-free.
To improve transparency, Apple began publishing lists of its confirmed smelters in 2014 and has worked to eliminate conflict minerals from its supply chain. The company has also invested in using recycled and responsibly sourced materials, such as bio-based plastic, in its latest iPhone models.
While Apple has taken steps to address ethical concerns, the complexity of its supply chain and the involvement of third-party suppliers make it challenging to ensure complete transparency and accountability in the sourcing of plastic and other raw materials.
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Apple's use of bioplastics
Apple has been transitioning to bioplastics and recycled alternatives from petroleum-based plastics. The company is trying to avoid mining new materials and is instead finding ways to use recycled or responsibly sourced materials. Apple wants to ensure that its devices last as long as possible and are recycled properly.
The iPhone XS, for example, uses cover glass that is 32% bio-based plastic. The iPhone Xs and Xr use 35% post-consumer recycled plastic in their speaker enclosures and 32% bio-based plastic for the cover glass frame.
Apple's plastic strategy for the 13-inch MacBook Air with Retina Display involves using recycled and bio-based alternatives in various components. For instance, the vent is made from 45% recycled materials, the speakers are 35% recycled, and the keyboard butterfly mechanism is 34% bio-based.
Apple is also working to improve its packaging by eliminating plastics, increasing recycled content, and reducing overall packaging. The company ensures that all the wood fiber in its packaging is either recycled or sourced from responsibly managed forests.
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Frequently asked questions
The iPhone XS uses cover glass that is 32% bio-based plastic. Its speaker enclosures are made with 35% post-consumer recycled plastic.
Arkema, a designer of high-performance bio-based polymers, manufactures for Apple at its facilities in France, the United States, and China. DSM Engineering Plastics, which manufactures polymers and compounds in the Netherlands, Taiwan, and China, also supplies plastic for Apple products.
No, Apple does not manufacture its own plastic. The company contracts with third-party suppliers, such as Foxconn, to produce its products.
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