Meet Lisa Jackson, Apple's Dynamic Sustainability Guru

Lisa Jackson leads Apple’s sustainability initiatives, focusing on renewable energy, greener manufacturing materials and climate action.

Since joining Apple in 2013, she has spearheaded transformative projects, including achieving 100% renewable energy for Apple’s global operations in 2018 and implementing an industry-leading supplier clean energy programme.

Lisa’s impact also extends far beyond Apple, having served as the Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency from 2009 to 2013.

The role she fulfilled at the EPA is perhaps one of the most influential seats a sustainability practitioner can hold anywhere in the world, making her the perfect candidate to lead the transition of a global corporate giant like Apple.

During her tenure there, she focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting air and water quality and expanding environmental outreach to under-served communities.

Before Apple: Lisa's early years

Lisa began her professional journey as a scientist, graduating from Princeton University in 1986 with a master's degree in chemical engineering.

She started her career at the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington DC, initially working as a staff scientist and project manager.

During this early period, she focused on hazardous waste clean-ups, particularly addressing contamination issues.

Her subsequent move to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in 1999 was a real change, though.

There, her scope broadened as she worked on complex environmental challenges, addressing pollution and developing comprehensive environmental protection strategies.

Her technical background and commitment to environmental policy laid the groundwork for her future as Apple's senior-most sustainability executive, demonstrating her ability to blend scientific expertise with policy-making.

Leading the EPA

After many years of work in federal departments, Lisa rose to the top office of the EPA in 2009.

She served as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2009 to 2013 during the Obama administration, becoming the first person of colour to hold this position.

At the EPA, Lisa prioritised climate change mitigation and environmental justice.

She implemented landmark greenhouse gas regulations, established the first national carbon emissions standards for vehicles and oversaw the agency's response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

She also championed clean air and water initiatives, pushing for stricter pollution controls and supporting renewable energy development across the US, contributing to the New Energy for America and the Clean Power Plan of the Obama administration.

Lisa's impact at Apple

Since joining in 2013 Apple, as US President Barack Obama's first term was coming to a close, Lisa has helped the tech giant position itself as a leader in corporate ecological responsibility.

The company has committed to becoming carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain and product life cycle by 2030.

Key initiatives include its Material Recovery Lab, which explores advanced recycling techniques like Daisy, Apple's robotic recycling system.

Daisy is capable of disassembling iPhones to recover valuable materials.

Apple has also prioritised using recycled aluminium in its products and has dramatically reduced plastic packaging across its offerings.

Its environmental efforts extend to protecting forests, investing in conservation projects and developing more energy-efficient devices with lower carbon footprints.

Lisa has always been a proponent of diversity in the workplace too, championing Apple's Impact Accelerator initiative, which supports black-owned business across the US.

"On our journey to our 2030 carbon-neutral goal for our supply chain and products, we’re determined to help create a greener and more equitable future for all people," she says.

"The businesses we’re partnering with today are poised to become tomorrow’s diverse and innovative industry leaders, creating ripples of change to help communities everywhere adapt to the urgent challenges posed by climate change."

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