"Carbon Neutral" Apple Watch: What Does It Really Mean?
Apple's recent launch of its "carbon neutral" 9th-generation Apple Watch has stirred both interest and skepticism in the tech community. While Apple has certainly made strides in cleaning up its supply chain and investing in renewable energy, experts like climate scientist David Ho question whether any product can genuinely be carbon neutral. The phrase "carbon neutral" is seen by some as misleading when companies use carbon credits to offset their emissions, a practice that has drawn scrutiny from regulators. Apple's "carbon neutral" watch relies heavily on these credits, which are tied to nature-based offset projects that are themselves subject to criticism. As noted in the article:
"Part of the problem is the slipperiness of attempting to tie a carbon credit—an abstract financial instrument—to any particular product in Apple’s armada of product offerings or the wider global economy. The Watch doesn’t have any role in creating those credits. They’re only brought together by an accountant’s sleight of hand."
The company's ambitious goal to have its entire product lineup carbon neutral by 2030 might sound good on paper, but given the complexity of global supply chains and the limitations of current carbon offset systems, it raises the question: how 'neutral' can a consumer product really be? (Source: Wired)
iPhone 15 Launch: Analyzing Apple’s Eco-Friendly Claims Amid New Product Launches
In case you missed it, we examined Apple's annual iPhone launch last week. Amid the spectacle of technology and innovation, Apple's environmental initiatives were in the spotlight. The tech giant unveiled four new iPhone models and two Apple Watches, all with improved features and performance. At the same time, Apple made significant claims about their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts, such as a 95% reduction in transportation emissions and a carbon-neutral Series 9 Apple Watch—a claim that has been questioned, as noted in a previous Wired article. Check out our post where we assess Apple's eco-claims in the context of their past green initiatives. (Source: UWCISA)
Fairphone 5: A More Sustainable and Repairable Smartphone?
The Fairphone 5, released by Dutch smartphone company Fairphone, aims to be a game-changer in the smartphone industry by offering up to 10 years of software support, a first in the industry. It also has built-in eco-sustainability, unlike the competition. The previous model, the Fairphone 4, got an industry-leading iFixit Score of 10 out 10 for its repairability. Designed with longevity, repairability, and eco-human-friendly-sourcing in mind, the phone retails at £619 (€699). It features a 6.46-inch QHD+ OLED screen, a Qualcomm QCM6490 processor, and an array of recycled and sustainable materials. While it may not lead in performance, it offers other unique benefits such as a removable battery, a five-year warranty, and modular spare parts for easy repairs. Fairphone is setting new standards for manufacturing and tech waste reduction, although compromises include a less impressive camera and mid-range performance. (Source: The Guardian, Fairphone)
Driving into the Privacy Abyss: The Dark Side of Modern Cars
Modern cars are becoming more like computers on wheels, boasting advanced tech features that unfortunately come with a price—your privacy. An exhaustive research study into 25 car brands revealed that every brand collects more personal data than necessary, and 84% admit to sharing or selling your data to third parties. Only two brands, available only in Europe, give drivers the right to have their personal data deleted. Surprisingly, car manufacturers perform worse in terms of security and privacy practices compared to other tech products like dating apps or mental health apps. The study also exposes how these companies manipulate "consent," forcing drivers and even passengers to give away their privacy. Given that every brand reviewed was flagged for privacy issues, the situation paints a grim picture for consumer choice and control over personal data. (Source: Mozilla)
Turmoil in Crypto Continues: Binance.US CEO's Departure and the SEC Crackdown
Brian Shroder, CEO of Binance's U.S. arm, has stepped down and will be temporarily succeeded by the firm's Chief Legal Officer, Norman Reed. Amid regulatory scrutiny, the company is also reducing its workforce by approximately one-third. This move follows allegations from the SEC that Binance.US has been operating an illegal trading platform. These organizational changes are part of a larger trend affecting the crypto industry, as U.S. regulatory bodies ramp up enforcement measures. (Source: WSJ)
Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist who is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.
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