Apple Introduces Second Impact Accelerator Class

Apple announced its second Impact Accelerator class, comprised of 16 Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Indigenous-owned businesses at the forefront of environmental services and solutions. The Impact Accelerator, which is part of the company's Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, will provide training and mentorship to help drive the selected businesses to the next level of growth while achieving a shared objective of building a greener world.

Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, Lisa Jackson, said: 

"The fight to address climate change demands that we band together to develop innovative solutions while empowering and uplifting the communities we’re working to protect.

"We are thrilled for this dynamic group of innovators to take their important work to the next level with help from our Impact Accelerator, and we are proud to deepen our commitment to working with partners around the country to ensure that environmental progress and equity go hand in hand.”

The companies will take part in a three-month programme designed to accelerate their progress toward their objectives. Executives and their teams will receive customised training that will provide them with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed as an Apple supplier, as well as access to Apple mentors and experts to help align business priorities with environmental goals, and scholarship opportunities with leading executive education programmes focused on supply chain and growth.

Following the completion of the programme, the companies will be assessed for commercial prospects with Apple as it aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire manufacturing supply chain by 2030. Since 2020, Apple's corporate operations have been carbon neutral.

The Impact Accelerator initiative was introduced last year to ensure that the company's strategic work and investments to protect the environment also help communities of colour gain access to opportunity. 

Companies in the inaugural Impact Accelerator class have seen increased recognition for their work within their sector and local communities, built connections with public-and private-sector leaders advancing climate-based solutions at the local and state levels and seen their overall business opportunities expand since their participation in the programme. 

Several companies are actively working with Apple as part of the company's supply chain network, and each company has participated in select opportunities to be evaluated for possible business with Apple.

Source: Apple

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