Apple’s Green Thumb Gives Other Companies Black Eyes

Apple is well known throughout the industry as being on the forefront of eco-friendly design and production. That is respectable, admirable, and all other sorts of great. But, honestly, why bother? After all, going out of your way simply to save a tree or two can’t be that worthwhile, right? Well guess what: Steve Jobs and Apple know something that others seemingly don’t.

Having done something as simple as reducing the size of the boxes being shipped, Jobs noted, is already saving Apple hundreds of thousands of dollars — smaller boxes equals more efficiency in shipping, which results in not having to pay for as many 747 cargo planes to haul those products around the globe. Those savings add up over the years, and allows Apple to invest that money back into the company, producing more killer products.

“It’s the right thing to do from an environmental point of view; it’s the right thing to do from a business point of view,” Jobs told investors recently.

Mean Green

But just how serious is Apple and Jobs about this whole green thing?

Very serious!

You would think it was a religion: the company has actually have gone out of their way to audit around 100 suppliers that help produce Apple’s products to make sure that they are being economical in their handling of their business.

Interestingly, more than half of these companies have stated that they have never been audited by a company before other than Apple. That clearly paints a picture that Apple doesn’t want to be associated with any company that could harm their eco-friendly image.

But Jobs took it a step further, going as far to actually call out the competition. He believes that a majority of companies who parade themselves around as eco-friendly companies of the future are all talk and no walk.

It makes sense that many companies would do this: people, in general, would probably side with a company labeled as green and eco-friendly, particularly if it doesn’t hurt their wallets. So why not make that claim? It couldn’t hurt. But by doing that, it gives the impression that all companies are on their best behavior, which clearly isn’t the truth.

Unfortunately, this could be quite harmful for consumers and businesses alike.

The Leader of the Pack

Yet Apple isn’t only a leader of the green movement, the company is a genuine role model. Every single company on this planet should take a look at how Apple is doing things, because it is working (quite well, I might add).

In the end, however, Apple pushes on, striving to make their products greener than ever, while other companies set aside, claiming that they are eco-friendly without much effort to deliver on the promise.

But hopefully, with Apple’s inspiration and leadership, these other companies will get their act together.