The production, distribution, consumption and disposal have social, environmental and economic impacts; some of which are positive while others are negative.
Raw Materials
The mining of raw materials have many impacts such as:
Social
- A positive is that highly developed cities and countries aren't affected as all the polluted mining is done in developing countries.
Environmental
- A positive is that mining companies such as Molycorp are trying to be environmentally friendly by using a proprietary method that that believe is the 'answer to toxic mess'.
-A negative is that currently with the available technology, there will always be some sort of carbon pollution unless a major scientific breakthrough is made.
Economy
-A positive is that more jobs are available to the countries where the mines are located.
Production
The manufacture of Apple products have impacts such as:
Social
- A positive is that Apple are always trying to improve condition to please the workers and the public.
- A negative is that the workers are injured, subject to illness or can even be killed.
Environmental
-A positive is that although workers are treated unfairly, the factories are funning fairly efficiently.
-A negative is that pollution is still emitted from factories but also the working environment is harsh and cruel on workers.
Economy
-A positive is that contractors run the factories and Apple do not have to spend money on their own staff, managers, etc.
Consumption
The distribution and use of Apple products have impacts such as:
Social
-A positive is that customers are protected as there are no harmful substances present.
-A negative is that the responsibility of safe use is in the consumer's hands.
Environmental
-A positive is that renewable energy is used in most of their operations.
Economy
-Apple is able to gain mass funds for use in the company as their products are available worldwide.
Disposal
The disposal and reuse of Apple products have impacts such as:
Social
-A positive is that Apple's take-back program allows customers to dispose of their products properly.
Environmental
-A positive is that because products are disposed of where they are collected from, transportation greenhouse gas emissions are low.
-A negative is that some minerals in an Apple product can not be recycled or disposed of safely.
Economy
-A positive is that minerals can be recycled and reused which limits money having to be spent on mining.
These impacts create many problems with the supply chain as a whole, including: the sourcing of minerals, the working conditions in factories, consumer use and mineral recycle/disposal.
Raw Materials
The mining of raw materials have many impacts such as:
Social
- A positive is that highly developed cities and countries aren't affected as all the polluted mining is done in developing countries.
Environmental
- A positive is that mining companies such as Molycorp are trying to be environmentally friendly by using a proprietary method that that believe is the 'answer to toxic mess'.
-A negative is that currently with the available technology, there will always be some sort of carbon pollution unless a major scientific breakthrough is made.
Economy
-A positive is that more jobs are available to the countries where the mines are located.
Production
The manufacture of Apple products have impacts such as:
Social
- A positive is that Apple are always trying to improve condition to please the workers and the public.
- A negative is that the workers are injured, subject to illness or can even be killed.
Environmental
-A positive is that although workers are treated unfairly, the factories are funning fairly efficiently.
-A negative is that pollution is still emitted from factories but also the working environment is harsh and cruel on workers.
Economy
-A positive is that contractors run the factories and Apple do not have to spend money on their own staff, managers, etc.
Consumption
The distribution and use of Apple products have impacts such as:
Social
-A positive is that customers are protected as there are no harmful substances present.
-A negative is that the responsibility of safe use is in the consumer's hands.
Environmental
-A positive is that renewable energy is used in most of their operations.
Economy
-Apple is able to gain mass funds for use in the company as their products are available worldwide.
Disposal
The disposal and reuse of Apple products have impacts such as:
Social
-A positive is that Apple's take-back program allows customers to dispose of their products properly.
Environmental
-A positive is that because products are disposed of where they are collected from, transportation greenhouse gas emissions are low.
-A negative is that some minerals in an Apple product can not be recycled or disposed of safely.
Economy
-A positive is that minerals can be recycled and reused which limits money having to be spent on mining.
These impacts create many problems with the supply chain as a whole, including: the sourcing of minerals, the working conditions in factories, consumer use and mineral recycle/disposal.