Introduction

The purpose of this report is to answer our research questions by offering an analysis of our company and by providing results and conclusions that demonstrate our company’s negative or positive impact on the environment and society. The company selected for this report is Apple Inc., an American multinational corporation that controls almost 25% of the market share in the technological industry.

Our research hypothesis is that Apple’s sustainability practices contribute to its business success metrics including innovation and profitability. Furthermore, our first research question is whether Apple is as sustainable as it makes its stakeholders believe. To answer this inquiry we will be inspecting shadow reports created by external organizations about Apple and we will be comparing them to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Our second research question is whether Apple is using the GRI framework to share its sustainable practices. The company has been creating sustainability reports since 2012; hence, we will be using Apple’s ESG reports to analyze the company report’s content and quality guidelines. 

Our last research question is whether Apple uses the triple bottom line to be a profitable company. The triple bottom line concept represents people, planet, and product and how a company can become financially profitable by respecting the 3Ps. Apple is dedicated to using its resources as a company to tackle climate change as some of its programs such as its Supplier Clean Energy Program has aided manufacturing suppliers in making the shift to renewable power provided by solar, wind, and other renewable energies. Besides, in 2016 Apple became a member of the global RE100 program, which aims to transition Apple into a totally renewable energy company. Moreover, the company has pledged to become carbon-neutral by 2030. Furthermore, Apple has created various programs such as a Code of Conduct, Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, and Supplier Diversity Programs to create value for their stakeholders. Finally, Apple has implemented new circular strategies to close the loop in their products by refurbishing old goods into new ones. All these initiatives necessitate large-scale breakthroughs such as the design and implementation of new technologies, the mobilization of financial systems, and the fast deployment of renewable energy.