Apple announced that it is expanding its renewable energy and environmental protection efforts in China. This includes a multi-year project with World Wildlife Fund, which the company says will “significantly increase” responsibly managed forests across the country. The two strive to protect a million acres of forests, which provide fiber for pulp, paper, and wood products.

Apple says its goal is to achieve a net-zero impact on the world’s supply of sustainable virgin fiber and power all its operations on 100% renewable energy. That’s world wide – not just in China.

Apple VP of Environmental Initiatives Lisa Jackson said, “Forests, like energy, can be renewable resources. We believe we can run on naturally renewable resources and ensure that we protect—and create—as much sustainable working forest as needed to produce the virgin paper in our product packaging. This is an important step toward that goal and our commitment to leave the world better than we found it.”

“Apple’s support for this project and its environmental leadership show that protecting forests is not just good for society but important for business,” said Lo Sze Ping, CEO of WWF China. “This collaboration between our two organizations will seek to reduce China’s ecological footprint by helping produce more wood from responsibly managed forests within its own borders. Doing so is essential to China, the world’s biggest timber importer. Our hope is this will catalyze a new model of corporate leadership in promoting sustainable forest management and using paper resources more efficiently and responsibly around the world.”

Apple is also expanding its renewable energy projects to manufacturing facilities in the country.

CEO Tim Cook said, “We’ve set an example by greening our data centers, retail stores and corporate offices, and we’re ready to start leading the way toward reducing carbon emissions from manufacturing. This won’t happen overnight—in fact it will take years—but it’s important work that has to happen, and Apple is in a unique position to take the initiative toward this ambitious goal. It is a responsibility we accept. We are excited to work with leaders in our supply chain who want to be on the cutting edge of China’s green transformation.”

Apple launched a solar project in China a few weeks ago. This will see solar installations in Sichuan Province, which the company says will generate “far more energy than needed” to power its corporate offices and retail stores in the country. On this, Apple has partnered with Leshan Electric Power Co., Sichuan Development Holding Co., Ltd, Tianjin Tsinlien Investment Holding Co., Ltd, Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co., Ltd, and SunPower Corporation The project involves two 20-megawatt solar farms, which will generate up to 80 million kilowatt hours per year, which is enough to power the equivalent of 61,000 homes.

Apple makes a point to note that the projects were designed to “minimize” the ecological impact and protect grass lands that support the yak population.

Image via Wikimedia Commons