Apple Outlines COVID-19 Safety Measures in 2020 Supplier Report
Apple releases its 2020 Supplier Responsibility Report, highlighting new health protections across its global supply chain in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also details significant environmental and labor improvements.
Apple shares its 2020 Supplier Responsibility Report, highlighting the extensive precautions it implements across its global supply chain amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Senior vice president of operations Sabih Khan details new health protocols that prioritize the safety of workers, noting that thousands of Apple employees work directly with suppliers to navigate the crisis.
The company requires personal protective equipment in all work and common areas, provides masks and sanitizer, and enhances deep cleaning protocols. Suppliers also redesign factory floorplans to ensure strict social distancing, while implementing flexible working hours and staggered shifts to reduce interpersonal contact. Furthermore, Apple shares these safety plans with other organizations to help establish similar industry-wide standards.
Beyond pandemic responses, the report reveals significant environmental and labor milestones based on interviews with 52,000 workers and 1,142 audits across 49 countries. Apple recovers $1.3 million in recruitment fees for employees, sees a 53 percent increase in supplier sites committed to zero waste, and conserves 30.5 billion gallons of freshwater to date, with over 99 percent of audited suppliers achieving high-performing status.