Apple teams with WWF to save forests in China

Apple and the World Wildlife Fund are aiming to to save as much as one million acres of forest

While not everyone still believes that there is much room left for growth in oversaturated China, but Apple, which is it currently the most popular smartphone vendor in the country, definitely sees a big opportunity. That has led to the company unveiling a series of environmental projects in the country, including a major solar plant project.

Now Apple is going a step further and actively trying to save China's environment, one tree at a time. 

On Monday, Apple announced that is has partnered with World Wildlife Fund for a new multi-year project which will increase responsibly managed forests across China.

The goal is to eventually reach a neutral impact on the world’s paper supply, and the two entities are aiming to save as much as one million acres of forest in the process.

This initiative "will take years," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement, but noted that it is "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."

In addition, Apple also announced that is intends to expand its renewable energy projects to manufacturing facilities in China.

All of this comes only three weeks after Apple revealed its plan to partner with SunPower Corp to build two solar power projects in China's Sichuan province. Together the two plants will total 40 megawatts, and those will generate more energy than needed to power all of Apple’s corporate offices and retail stores in China. 

For Apple, becoming intrenched in China makes good business sense. The number of iPhones shipped in the country last quarter increased over 62% year-to-year, reaching 14.5 million shipments and giving the company a 14.7% market share.

Given that kind of growth, and the initiatives that were announced, it cannot be a coincidence that Cook joined Weibo, a.k.a. the Chinese Twitter, on Monday, already amassing over 355,000 fans.

His first post was a promotion for the partnership with WWF.

"Hello China! Happy to be back in Beijing, announcing innovative new environmental programs. Hello, China! Very happy to come to Beijing again, and announced new projects and innovative environment," he wrote.

For China, the benefit here is obvious. We all remember the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and all the images of the terrible air quality in the city. Having Apple take an active interest in helping alleviate pollution is a clear victory for the country. 

“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, Chief Executive Officer for WWF China, said in a statement.

“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.”

(Image source: chinablog.cc)