Apple commits Rs 100 crore to support India’s clean energy ambitions

As Apple accelerates its manufacturing and retail presence in India, the tech giant is now significantly expanding its environmental footprint in the country as well.

On Thursday, the iPhone maker announced an initial investment of Rs 100 crore to support renewable energy infrastructure in India, alongside new programmes focused on waste management and green entrepreneurship. The initiatives are part of Apple’s broader global sustainability goals and come as the company sharpens its focus on clean energy and circular economy practices across its supply chain.

Apple said the investment, being carried out in partnership with renewable energy developer CleanMax, will help create more than 150 megawatts of renewable energy capacity in India. According to the company, that amount of energy would be sufficient to power nearly 1,50,000 average Indian households every year.

“At Apple, our commitment to the environment is also a driving force for innovation, across the company and around the world,” said Sarah Chandler, Apple’s Vice President of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation. “We’re proud to expand our efforts to invest in India’s clean energy economy and protect the country’s precious natural resources.”

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Apple expands India clean energy ambitions

The latest investment marks a major expansion of Apple’s sustainability efforts in India, which has rapidly become one of the company’s key manufacturing and growth markets.

Apple had earlier partnered with CleanMax on rooftop solar projects designed to supply renewable energy to its offices and retail stores in India. The new initiative goes further by supporting large-scale renewable energy generation aimed at strengthening clean energy adoption across Apple’s supply chain.

The company has been steadily encouraging suppliers worldwide to shift towards renewable energy sources as part of its broader carbon neutrality plans.

India has emerged as a critical geography for those ambitions, particularly as Apple increases local iPhone production and deepens partnerships with manufacturing suppliers in the country.

Beyond energy, Apple is also stepping up its efforts to tackle plastic waste and improve recycling systems.

Recycling, waste management and green start-ups

Apple has partnered with WWF-India to support waste recovery and recycling initiatives that focus on both environmental protection and worker welfare.

The programme builds on an existing model in Goa developed with waste-management organisation Saahas Zero Waste. The system involves collecting, sorting and recovering recyclable materials with full traceability to reduce plastic leakage into nearby ecosystems.

Apple said the initiative is now being expanded into other regions, including Coimbatore, in collaboration with local authorities, waste workers and communities.

The company is also backing green entrepreneurship through a partnership with impact-focused non-profit Acumen. Under the programme, six early-stage enterprises working in areas such as regenerative agriculture, waste management and circular economy solutions will receive grants, mentorship and technical guidance.

The announcement reflects Apple’s wider push to align business growth with sustainability goals. The company said it has already reduced its global greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60 per cent compared with 2015 levels, even as revenue has risen sharply over the same period.

With India playing a growing role in both its manufacturing and sustainability strategies, Apple’s latest investments suggest the company sees the country not just as a production hub, but also as a long-term partner in its environmental ambitions.