The evolution of the recycling process in Apple factories has been very rapid!
In the world of technology, innovation is not just limited to the devices we use every day, but also the processes that make it possible. Apple, a pioneer in the creation of cutting-edge electronic products, has demonstrated this with the evolution of its recycling robotsthe most recent version of which is Daisy.
Unlike its predecessors, Liam 1.0 and Liam 2.0, Daisy doesn’t just unscrew devices, she dismantles them with unprecedented speed and efficiency.
Unlike other projects, Apple has opened its doors to outsiders to experience first-hand how the iPhone recycling plants, run by its robots, work. Recently, The company accepted The Verge’s visit to its factory in Austin, Texas.who spoke exhaustively about the rapid evolution of this initiative.
Apple’s recycling robot does an efficient job, but not so neat
Apple’s first recycling robot, Liam 1.0, launched in 2016, marked a step change in the material recovery process. Liam 2.0, developed in 2018, marked an even bigger milestone, reducing disassembly time from 12 minutes to 11 seconds.
While Daisy, the new generation of recycling robots, has achieved the balance between speed and efficiency. Yes OK its disassembly time is 18 secondsits footprint is considerably smaller and its ability to separate materials is almost doubled.
So, while the first robots carefully unscrewed the different components, current robots “pierce” the component, because it is faster to effectively destroy a phone and this, even if the result is much less pretty. And Daisy is able to do this with 29 iPhone models compared to the one model supported by Liam 1.0 or the six supported by Liam 2.0.
Speed isn’t Daisy’s only attribute
This robot is the embodiment of Apple’s commitment to the circular economy and sustainable development. By recovering valuable materials from discarded iPhones, Daisy helps reduce the need to mine new resources and the generation of e-waste.
Yet, there is still a long way to go for this process to impact the device disposal process. According to information shared by The Verge, Daisy can disassemble up to 1.2 million iPhones per year, compared to 150 million smartphones that will be thrown away in 2023which are part of the 68 million tonnes of devices thrown away around the world.
In addition, Apple must deal with shady situations that seek to interfere in the process, such as the incredible story that 100,000 iPhones that Apple wanted to destroy were stolen to be resold in China.
You can follow iPadized on Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter (X) or check out our Telegram channel to stay up to date with the latest tech news.