Apple has hired an outside specialist firm to help audit the environmental practices of its suppliers in China following a series of critical reports by activists.
The maker of iPhones and iPads met a coalition of environmental groups in China on Tuesday and told them the firm was engaged in audits of suppliers with which they had found fault. The audits of 11 suppliers so far followed a meeting in August as the coalition prepared to release a sharply critical report.
Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs and leader of the coalition, said the audits represented “progress” but more could be done. “This is just the beginning and not the end of it,” he said.