Mac mini is the world’s most energy-efficient desktop computer. It’s also highly recyclable and requires very little packaging. All in all, that’s no small thing.
View a PDF of Apple’s Environmental Status Report for
Apple and the Environment
Apple takes a complete product life-cycle approach to determining our environmental impact.
Life cycle impact.
Apple’s life cycle analysis accounts for all emissions associated with our products. That includes raw material extraction, manufacturing, packaging, transportation, a three- or four-year period of use,1 and recycling. In the course of this analysis, we determined that more than 95 percent of Apple’s total greenhouse gas emissions come from the products we make.
Energy Efficiency
Mac mini is the world’s most energy-efficient desktop computer. It has even earned the EPA’s ENERGY STAR qualification for its low power consumption.
Efficient power supply.
Mac mini includes a highly efficient power supply that reduces the amount of power wasted when bringing electricity from the wall to your computer. Lower power consumption reduces energy bills and lessens the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
Advanced power management.
Unlike a lot of Windows-based PC systems, Mac mini uses energy-efficient hardware components that work hand in hand with the operating system to conserve power. Mac OS X spins down hard drives and activates sleep mode. And it balances tasks across both central processors and graphics processors. Mac OS X never misses a power-saving opportunity, no matter how small. It even regulates the processor between keystrokes, reducing power between the letters you type. That’s just one of many ways Apple manages small amounts of power that add up to big savings.
Mac mini is a great example of Apple’s energy-efficient design philosophy. It uses less than 14 watts of power when idle — that’s something no other desktop computer can do.2
ENERGY STAR qualification.
Mac mini meets the stringent low power requirements set by the EPA, giving it ENERGY STAR qualification. ENERGY STAR 5.0 sets significantly higher efficiency limits for power supplies and aggressive limits for the computer’s typical annual power consumption.
Eliminating Toxic Substances
It’s what Mac mini doesn’t have that makes it more environmentally friendly. It’s free of many harmful toxins like BFRs and PVC.
Fewer toxins.
One of the greatest environmental challenges facing the computer industry today is the presence of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in products. Apple engineers have worked hard to eliminate BFRs and PVC from Mac mini circuit boards, internal cables, connectors, insulators, adhesives, and more.3 And they’ve eliminated many other toxins that are a common part of desktop computer manufacturing.
Reduced Packaging
Apple designs Mac mini packaging to be as small as possible, so more products fit on fewer planes.
Smaller boxes, fewer planes.
The new Mac mini retail packaging is 31 percent smaller than the original Mac mini. In addition, the volume of the shipping box has decreased by 60 percent compared with the first-generation Mac mini. And smaller boxes are better for the planet. Because smaller boxes mean we can fit more boxes in each shipping container — up to twice as many. Which means more products will fit on each boat and plane. Which means fewer boats and planes are used, resulting in fewer CO2 emissions. It’s one seemingly minor change. But it has a major positive impact on our environment.
Recyclability
Because Mac mini is made from materials such as aluminum and polycarbonate, it’s more likely to be recycled and reused at the end of its long, productive life.
Recyclable materials.
Mac mini uses a combination of highly recyclable aluminum and polycarbonate to create its incredibly compact enclosure. Just 6.5 by 6.5 by 2 inches, Mac mini is a fraction of the size of a typical desktop tower, making it one of the most material-efficient desktop computers available.
EPEAT Gold
Mac mini has earned EPEAT Gold status for its responsible manufacture, energy efficiency, and recyclability.
The EPEAT Gold rating.
Through its innovative and environmentally friendly design, Mac mini has earned the highest rating of EPEAT Gold. The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, or EPEAT, evaluates the environmental impact of a product based on how recyclable it is, how much energy it uses, and how it’s designed and manufactured.
