Is Apple ethical?
Our research highlights several ethical issues with Apple. It scores 40 or less points in our company ethos, tax conduct, tech sustainability, and workers categories.
Below we outline of some of these issues. To see the full detailed stories, and Apple's overall ethical rating, please sign in or subscribe.
People
Migrant people are subjected to appalling treatment in Apple factories based in China and India. Reports by The New York Times and Scroll in 2023 and 2024 respectively focus on the vulnerable group of rural to urban migrants and detail unacceptable conditions.
The abuse at the Indian factory includes: restricted freedom of movement, substandard living conditions; restricted freedom of expression and isolation, and excessive production targets, among other issues. It is also claimed that migrant workers’ dormitories are designed to prevent unionisation and they are heavily guarded so activists are unable to contact the workers.
In China, a worker claimed that “because of the demand of Apple’s newest iPhone” he was required to work very long hours and worked without a day off across two weeks. He described no prospect of retirement for migrants and a lack of access to benefits when out of work.
Apple has some policies to protect workers’ rights but it doesn’t appear to adhere to it, therefore it received 0/100 in this category.
Environment
Climate change
Apple reports on its greenhouse gas emissions, however, some of this isn’t considered adequate: it reports on its Scope 2 emissions (indirect emissions from purchased energy for heating and electricity) using a market based method which artificially deflates the figures and makes them look better than they are.
However it has a thorough discussion on its past and future actions to reduce its emissions and its future emission targets are approved by Science Based Targets.
Apple loses marks for publishing prominent misleading messages on its website. For example, it advertised its watches as "carbon neutral" and received significant criticism from environmental groups about these claims which was reported by the Financial Times.
Apple scores 50/100 for Climate change.
Tech sustainability
This rating assesses repairability, warranty and use of recycled materials. Apple receives no points at all in the first two subcategories for poor repairability and short warranties. It performs better in the third subcategory: nearly 20 percent of all material used in Apple products in 2021 was recycled. Apple claims that this is the highest-ever use of recycled content. In its 2023 sustainability report it outlined a continued commitment to the use of recycled materials and closed loop electronics.
It received 30/100 for tech sustainability.
Politics
Tax conduct
Apple receives 0/100 for Tax conduct. We have identified significant subsidiaries located in tax havens, such as the Netherlands and Ireland. It is likely that these subsidiaries are used for tax avoidance purposes. Furthermore, The Guardian reported that “Seven of the biggest US-headquartered tech companies, including Apple, Microsoft and Google owner Alphabet, are estimated to have paid £750m in UK corporation tax and the digital sales tax, compared with £2.8bn in estimated tax due had profits not been routed elsewhere, according to TaxWatch, a campaign group”.
Company ethos
While Apple funnels its revenue to tax havens and migrant workers in its factories have no prospect of retiring, the company’s CEO was paid $63,209,845 (about £50 million) in 2023.
Apple scores 0/100 for company ethos.
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The research on Apple was conducted in summer 2024 and the text written autumn 2024.