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  • April 2023 (Revised September 2023)
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Apple's iPhone Revolution: Pioneering the Circular Economy

By: George Serafeim
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:12
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Abstract

When asked to identify an example of a circular economy business model that has generated billions in revenues for a company, ChatGPT, the famous chatbot that in 2022 rocked the world with its ability to perform a variety of tasks, immediately identified and highlighted Apple’s iPhone trade-in program. The trade-in program encouraged customers to trade in their old devices, which were then refurbished and resold, or recycled for valuable components. With about 80% of the second-hand smartphone market comprised of iPhone and an increasing percentage of materials being recycled and reused in manufacturing, Apple was making progress towards circularity.

Keywords

Iphone; Smartphone; Waste Management; Recycling; Innovation; Product Upgrade; Product Life Cycle; Sustainability; Climate Impact; Digital; Business Model Innovation; Climate Change; Information Technology; Business Model; Electronics Industry; Information Technology Industry

Citation

Serafeim, George. "Apple's iPhone Revolution: Pioneering the Circular Economy." Harvard Business School Case 123-089, April 2023. (Revised September 2023.)
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About The Author

George Serafeim

Accounting and Management
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Related Work

    • September 2023
    • Faculty Research

    Apple’s iPhone Revolution: Pioneering the Circular Economy

    By: George Serafeim
    • April 2023 (Revised September 2023)
    • Faculty Research

    Apple's iPhone Revolution: Pioneering the Circular Economy

    By: George Serafeim
Related Work
  • Apple’s iPhone Revolution: Pioneering the Circular Economy By: George Serafeim
  • Apple's iPhone Revolution: Pioneering the Circular Economy By: George Serafeim
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