No More Headphones or Adapters: iPhone Changes

Accumulating a collection of unused headphones and spare phone chargers won’t be improved by purchasing a new iPhone 12. Apple has decided to omit these items from future packaging, as part of an intensified commitment to lessen its impact on the environment.

During today’s Apple event, Lisa Jackson of Apple detailed the company’s ambition to achieve a “net zero climate impact” worldwide by 2030. This goal encompasses achieving carbon neutrality across all aspects of the business, from the production and assembly processes to packaging and the recycling of devices. Reaching this objective requires increased reliance on solar energy and streamlined operations, alongside a reduction in waste.

Consequently, the company will discontinue including the traditional white headphones that have been bundled with iPhones for many years, as well as the standard power outlet adapter for the charging cable.

“Over 700 million Lightning headphones are already in use by customers, and a significant number of customers have transitioned to wireless audio solutions,” Jackson stated. “Furthermore, there are more than 2 billion Apple power adapters currently in circulation, not to mention the billions of adapters from other manufacturers.”

Fortunately, a power cable will still be included: a USB-C to Lightning cable compatible with your existing wall adapter or a laptop. However, compatibility may be limited with older adapters, potentially requiring the use of an adapter.

This change results in not only fewer items within the packaging, but also a reduced box size, enabling the company to ship more products per pallet. While it may seem insignificant – “are you truly helping the planet by shrinking the box?” – the scale of Apple’s operations means that increasing shipment density by 50% translates to substantial savings in transportation, equivalent to removing approximately 450,000 cars from the road annually, according to Apple.

Apple did not address its role in fostering a continuous cycle of upgrades for functional devices, or in rendering accessories obsolete through decisions like the removal of the headphone jack. However, this is not unexpected. While they may contribute to these issues, the same can be said for other major consumer electronics companies, and Apple is at least making efforts to offset these impacts.