When Apple launched the iPhone 12 last year, it made one major change in the phone’s packaging, by Removing Charger from the Box soon after plenty of other brands announce that their next device won’t have it in the box
According to Apple, it has been done to achieve the environmental goals set by the company. It is to be noted that Apple wants to become 100% carbon neutral by 2030.
now lets chance the perspective
How much Apple Saves by removing the charger, Earpods from iPhone 12 box
As per a Bill of Materials (BoM) analysis by Counterpoint Research, Apple saved $4.2 ( ₹308 approximately) on every iPhone 12 box that is shipped.
While $4.2 is not a significant amount, especially when compared to the cost of the phone,
Apple, as per a report by GizChina shipped around 63 million units of the iPhone 12 last year. Going by this calculation, removing the charger helped Apple save over $264 million dollars. we have not even included Earpods
so you know where its going
According to Apple
The fact the company is saying to use your old charger and the USB-C to Lightning cable included in the box is compatible with the last version of the iPhone. and this theory won’t help because
The cable that is included with the iPhone 12 isn’t compatible with the power blocks included with many previous iPhones. Consumers who don’t have a compatible charger lying around will need to purchase a USB-C wall charger or wireless charger in order to use their new phones.
which they will send in another packing! it like Why does it happen? Well, it’s always the “create a problem, sell the solution”
Does it Really Benefit the Environment?
In the case of iPhones, a person who upgrades to a new iPhone and continues to use the old charger will reduce the e-waste & the overall carbon footprint fine.
But then again, what about first-time iPhone buyers? from where they will bring a charger and Earpods. And what about the ones who’ll be buying the new chargers and earphones anyway?.
Ultimately they will buy a new one and since the chargers being sold separately will need separate packaging- not only the retail box but also the outer box if you are getting it from the online market and followed by logistics including shipping charges and all.
And then the third-party manufacturers to meet customers’ demands will produce Apples charger.
Removing Charger from the Box will help ?
The problem is that buying chargers or headphones separately could mean more packaging waste and emissions from separate deliveries.
So by Removing Charger from the Box they will remove “their” carbon footprint to some extend not the planet’s
and there are chances that Some of that might add to Apple’s carbon footprint, and some of it might get tacked on to different companies’ carbon footprints if consumers decide to buy the accessories from other vendors.
That doesn’t necessarily reduce emissions overall; it just spreads the greenhouse gasses around between different companies.
Conclusion
Not to forget the Android industry is already getting into this new trend. notably Samsung and Xiaomi.
We won’t get into maths, but the extra packaging and supply chain will definitely add to carbon emissions. This is why this step is not as efficient as the brands try to project with their fancy ‘environment-friendly’ goals.
Do they really have a concern about the environment or want to mint money from consumers? Do let me know your perspective in the comments below.
Leave a Reply