It's possible to play both sides of the same coin. The pressure is 10x greater on Apple because in many ways, they're 10x larger than their competitors. They should be able to make the right bureaucratic calls, if not then why trust them with anything?

A company like John Deere can lead the industry in fuel efficiency while also destroying the environment with an anti-consumer artificial depreciation policy. The idea that Apple systematically destroying the environment is at-odds with their pro-green marketing is a fallacy. They can (and do) make decisions that harm the environment that they refuse to justify. When your business makes a mistake and nobody is willing to respond or fix it, that's a sign that your bureaucratic body has become a corpse.

> In early 2015, Apple started stealth semiconductor fabrication activities in a facility located at 3250 Scott Boulevard in Santa Clara California, less than two hundred feet from thousands of homes. The factory intentionally vented its exhaust of solvent vapors and toxic gases straight from the roof and into the ambient outdoor air, with little or no abatement. The factory was only one story while the apartments were four stories tall, nearly ensuring the factory exhaust entered the apartment windows and 'fresh air intake' vents.

> Gjovik lived at these apartments in 2020 and found herself in the emergency room within one week, disabled by symptoms of solvent and gas exposure. Later in 2020, Gjovik conducted air testing and bio-monitoring which found the presence of Apple's factory exhaust inside her home, and inside her body.

Source: https://www.ashleygjovik.com/3250scott.html

Furthermore, we're talking about a company that willingly sources materials from effective slave labor in the Congo and other areas, while gaslighting their customer base about their commitment to inclusivity. There is no defending Apple here. These decisions are made by multiple people who should all be in prison.

This is called whataboutism.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism

It's a common tactic to deflect attention away from the accusation and change the subject.

I dont think anyone here thinks it is a conspiracy. And I'm sure everyone here expects apple to take proper responsibility.

But whataboutism about other companies doesn't hide the fact that there were/are violations.

This isn't gonna kill apple, don't worry nor will it permanently tarnish their reputation you're so worried about. But it is a big deal when they do spout green initiatives then get busted for stuff like this. Notice some of those dates? How absent does corporate have to be to allow stuff like this? Months and months on end with no real inspections?

If Apple was as green as they say, this wouldn't have happened in the first place. They would understand these types of messes. So while the main cause may fall on some of the daily employees, where was management? Why weren't they doing their job as responsible environmental stewards as their image upholds?

Again, IMO this isn't _that_ big of a deal so long as they stop those practices and get their stuff together. No amount of handwaving/whataboutisms is going to change this. Just accept that they got busted messing up and move on. Don't try to play it off and minimize stuff.