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Apple will cut down 36,000 acres of forest in 'conservation scheme'

Woodlands to provide ALL of Apple's packaging needs

Apple has purchased more than 36,000 acres of forestland to supply timber for its paper and pulp mills, and is describing the venture as part of a “conservationist scheme”.

"Apple is focused on using only the resources it needs," said Lisa Jackson, veep of environmental initiatives at Apple, and Larry Selzer, CEO of the Conservation Fund, in a poorly-disguised press release.

The fruity folk's partnership with the Conservation Fund is described as mutually beneficial. In chopping down thousands of trees to make paper packaging, we're told, "Apple is [displaying its commitment] to zeroing out that impact by using paper more efficiently, increasing recycled paper content, sourcing paper sustainably, and conserving acreage of working forests around the world equivalent to its virgin paper footprint."

The Conservation Fund has stated its commitment to identifying and conserving forests in the US. Of the 36,000 acres Apple has bought, the fund notes: "Through conservation easements, they will ensure these lands remain forests in the future. This helps preserve the supply of raw materials for paper while providing permanent environmental protection and fighting climate change."

Apple will be managing its own supply chain and selling off what it doesn't need to other companies. The Register has been unable to ascertain whether Apple's collaboration with the Conservation Fund is intended to be charitable or if it is commercially sustainable.

Although the fruity folk are notoriously quiet about precisely how many products they flog annually, they sell hundreds of millions of devices every year which are dispatched in paper packaging.

El Reg has contacted Apple and is awaiting a response. ®

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