Photo reveals Apple's plastic wrap-free iPhone 13 packaging

AppleInsider

As part of new environmental efforts announced on Tuesday, Apple said it will cut down on the material used in iPhone 13's packaging by removing the outer plastic wrap that typically enshrines the device in its box.

Apple's new packaging process was apparently revealed ahead of wide availability in an image posted to Twitter by leaker "DuanRui" on Thursday.

The photo shows an iPhone 13 package sealed with a sticker that integrates a pull tab to keep the box secure until ready to be opened. It appears that the protective label attaches to an inside section of the box top and the outer area of the box bottom.

This solution effectively keeps the box securely closed during transit and acts as a tamper-evident seal.

Apple has applied a similar tear-away system to its first-party accessories for years, with plastic stickers first appearing on small items like cables and later Apple Watch bands. Paper-based labels like the one used on iPhone 13's packaging are typically reserved for larger accessories with two-part rigid boxes.

According to Apple, the switch away from plastic wrap will avoid 600 metric tons of waste, presumably over the device's lifetime. The company has committed to removing plastic from its packaging by 2025.

Apple highlights other environmentally friendly aspects of iPhone 13 on its website, noting the handset uses 100% recycled rare earth elements in magnets, 100% recycled tin in the solder of its main logic board and battery management unit, 100% recycled gold in the plating of the main logic board and camera wire, and upcycled plastic water bottles for the dielectric material that composes iPhone's antenna lines.

Preorders for iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro went live early Friday ahead of wide release on Sept. 24.

Read on AppleInsider

macxpress

Pretty soon it will ship without the phone to save on packaging and the environment...

mobird

Great! When can we expect another price reduction by Apple for this cost saving measure?
First we had the price reduction due to the elimination of the earphones and the 5w charger...
/s

edited September 2021

outdoorappdeveloper

I do like putting the beautiful Apple boxes on display in my office (joking called a mini Apple Store with a shelving unit devoted to them). I hope they don't get dinged up too bad during shipping. That is a truly tiny amount of plastic to save on an extremely expensive product. I am all for treating the environment well but when any good idea is taken too far it becomes fanaticism.

gregoriusm

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

I do like putting the beautiful Apple boxes on display in my office (joking called a mini Apple Store with a shelving unit devoted to them). I hope they don't get dinged up too bad during shipping. That is a truly tiny amount of plastic to save on an extremely expensive product. I am all for treating the environment well but when any good idea is taken too far it becomes fanaticism.

I’m not so sure they are saving a truly tiny amount of plastic. From Apple: “This year we removed the plastic wrap from the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro case, saving 600 tons of plastic.” That’s a hell of a lot of plastic not going into the environment. 

japhey

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

I do like putting the beautiful Apple boxes on display in my office (joking called a mini Apple Store with a shelving unit devoted to them). I hope they don't get dinged up too bad during shipping. That is a truly tiny amount of plastic to save on an extremely expensive product. I am all for treating the environment well but when any good idea is taken too far it becomes fanaticism.

But it’s not fanaticism to be ok with putting 600 tons of plastic into oceans and landfills just because YOU don’t want a little mark a BOX? Um…ok, I guess. Do you also pet and caress it like Gollum before putting your precious onto the shelf? Jesus. 

edited September 2021

mobird

Not cynical at all, just a reality.
I have no problem with efforts to curb waste and commend Apple for doing so.

mplsp

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

I do like putting the beautiful Apple boxes on display in my office (joking called a mini Apple Store with a shelving unit devoted to them). I hope they don't get dinged up too bad during shipping. That is a truly tiny amount of plastic to save on an extremely expensive product. I am all for treating the environment well but when any good idea is taken too far it becomes fanaticism.

As others have pointed out, it's a cumulative benefit. a small amount of plastic for one phone multiplied by 10 million phones becomes significant. Just like many other 'small' improvements. 

curtis hannah

It is good that Apple is moving forward with environmental measures rather than the mostly untrue removal of the chargers.

With that said, I really don't see why these new USB C to lightning cables aren't being designed to last longer so they can stop including them and make the phone boxless in the future.

eriamjh

mobird said:

Great! When can we expect another price reduction by Apple for this cost saving measure?
First we had the price reduction due to the elimination of the earphones and the 5w charger...
/s

The price reduction comes in the form of a stock price increase.

Don’t have any AAPL stock? Tsk tsk.   It’s never been wrapped in plastic.   

kuyangkoh

Hahahahahaha…..clever

rygar

Apple doesn't give two hoots about the environment. Can't replace the battery without visiting an Apple store or sending it off. Most people don't bother so they buy a new phone if their old one isn't holding charge. Solder everything to the motherboard to make it as difficult as possible for the user to upgrade. Must buy a mac with a screen or buy an overpriced mac mini. The list goes on. Apple trying to claim being friendly to the environment is laughable at best and a sick joke at worst.

strangedays

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

I do like putting the beautiful Apple boxes on display in my office (joking called a mini Apple Store with a shelving unit devoted to them). I hope they don't get dinged up too bad during shipping. That is a truly tiny amount of plastic to save on an extremely expensive product. I am all for treating the environment well but when any good idea is taken too far it becomes fanaticism.

Nothing indicates this has been taken too far whatsoever. No need for hand wringing. Enjoy your Apple altar. 

edited September 2021

strangedays

rygar said:

Apple doesn't give two hoots about the environment. Can't replace the battery without visiting an Apple store or sending it off. Most people don't bother so they buy a new phone if their old one isn't holding charge. Solder everything to the motherboard to make it as difficult as possible for the user to upgrade. Must buy a mac with a screen or buy an overpriced mac mini. The list goes on. Apple trying to claim being friendly to the environment is laughable at best and a sick joke at worst.

All nonsense, of course. iPhones have a longer useful lifespan, they are often resold or traded in for refurbishment, and they are extremely recyclable, which Apple will do for you. 

Removable batteries are worse for the environment — they accumulate in drawers and then get tossed into the trash. 

My all-in-one iMac lasted 8 years of full-time use. By the time I replaced it even the display was outdated. This is far longer than any work-issued Windows PC. 

Mini isn’t overpriced. If you can’t afford one you aren’t in the game. Save your allowance.

Greenpeace and other bodies have recognized Apple for its recycling efforts, reductions in waste, renewable energy initiatives, etc. You’re just stuck inside your own head with a narrative you wrote. 

outdoorappdeveloper

Japhey said:

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

I do like putting the beautiful Apple boxes on display in my office (joking called a mini Apple Store with a shelving unit devoted to them). I hope they don't get dinged up too bad during shipping. That is a truly tiny amount of plastic to save on an extremely expensive product. I am all for treating the environment well but when any good idea is taken too far it becomes fanaticism.

But it’s not fanaticism to be ok with putting 600 tons of plastic into oceans and landfills just because YOU don’t want a little mark a BOX? Um…ok, I guess. Do you also pet and caress it like Gollum before putting your precious onto the shelf? Jesus. 

Compared to the 300 million tons of plastic thrown away each year? I don't care if they wrap it in paper. I just want the $1200 product I purchased to arrive in good shape. Too much to ask?

crowley

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

Japhey said:

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

I do like putting the beautiful Apple boxes on display in my office (joking called a mini Apple Store with a shelving unit devoted to them). I hope they don't get dinged up too bad during shipping. That is a truly tiny amount of plastic to save on an extremely expensive product. I am all for treating the environment well but when any good idea is taken too far it becomes fanaticism.

But it’s not fanaticism to be ok with putting 600 tons of plastic into oceans and landfills just because YOU don’t want a little mark a BOX? Um…ok, I guess. Do you also pet and caress it like Gollum before putting your precious onto the shelf? Jesus. 

Compared to the 300 million tons of plastic thrown away each year? I don't care if they wrap it in paper. I just want the $1200 product I purchased to arrive in good shape. Too much to ask?

They wrapped it in a box.  If the box gets scuffed then it did its job in protecting the phone.

edited September 2021

zeus423

Has anyone ever saved the plastic as a keepsake? Didn't think so.

hammeroftruth

zeus423 said:

Has anyone ever saved the plastic as a keepsake? Didn't think so.

Nobody that would ever admit to it, but yes there are some nuts who want it and try to re-wrap the box after emptying it. I have seen it years ago when there used to be a “setup” table and I was with other customers at the table. There was also someone who wanted the little tissue paper that protects the MacBook’s screen and flipped out when the specialist wadded it up to throw away. 

hammeroftruth

rygar said:

Apple doesn't give two hoots about the environment. Can't replace the battery without visiting an Apple store or sending it off. Most people don't bother so they buy a new phone if their old one isn't holding charge. Solder everything to the motherboard to make it as difficult as possible for the user to upgrade. Must buy a mac with a screen or buy an overpriced mac mini. The list goes on. Apple trying to claim being friendly to the environment is laughable at best and a sick joke at worst.

You are hilarious. Stick to playing Rygar. 

suddenly newton

rygar said:

Apple doesn't give two hoots about the environment. Can't replace the battery without visiting an Apple store or sending it off. Most people don't bother so they buy a new phone if their old one isn't holding charge. Solder everything to the motherboard to make it as difficult as possible for the user to upgrade. Must buy a mac with a screen or buy an overpriced mac mini. The list goes on. Apple trying to claim being friendly to the environment is laughable at best and a sick joke at worst.

Proof by non sequitur.

mplsp

StrangeDays said:

rygar said:

Apple doesn't give two hoots about the environment. Can't replace the battery without visiting an Apple store or sending it off. Most people don't bother so they buy a new phone if their old one isn't holding charge. Solder everything to the motherboard to make it as difficult as possible for the user to upgrade. Must buy a mac with a screen or buy an overpriced mac mini. The list goes on. Apple trying to claim being friendly to the environment is laughable at best and a sick joke at worst.

All nonsense, of course. iPhones have a longer useful lifespan, they are often resold or traded in for refurbishment, and they are extremely recyclable, which Apple will do for you. 

Removable batteries are worse for the environment — they accumulate in drawers and then get tossed into the trash. 

My all-in-one iMac lasted 8 years of full-time use. By the time I replaced it even the display was outdated. This is far longer than any work-issued Windows PC. 

Mini isn’t overpriced. If you can’t afford one you aren’t in the game. Save your allowance.

Greenpeace and other bodies have recognized Apple for its recycling efforts, reductions in waste, renewable energy initiatives, etc. You’re just stuck inside your own head with a narrative you wrote. 

As opposed to the entire device getting tossed in the trash if you can’t remove the battery? hmmm…which is worse for the environment?

Replaceable batteries, which  are removable by definition, are definitely better for the environment. (One should qualify that by saying easily replaceable batteries.) Apple’s batteries are replaceable. I don’t know if you can call them easily replaceable, but at least they can be replaced.

As I’ve said before, the best thing you can do for the environment is not buy a device in the first place. Barring that, buying a durable device and keeping it longer is best. Apple’s devices have, in general, a significantly longer usable lifespan than many of it’s competitors. They also tend to break down less frequently. Both of these help to offset the somewhat higher initial device cost and make them more environmentally friendly. 

Do I think Apple can do better? Absolutely. Part of being environmentally friendly is designing products that can be serviced. I this area, Apple falls behind. (The butterfly keyboards on MBPs are a good example.) Still they do far better than a lot of companies and as I said above, even ‘small’ changes like the plastic shrink wrap make a difference so kudos to them for doing this.

edited September 2021