Who Owns AirPods?

AirPods are manufactured through Apple's contract supply chain in China and Vietnam. Apple has committed to achieving carbon neutrality across its entire supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030. The company's 2030 target encompasses Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, which includes the manufacturing emissions from AirPods production at contracted factories.

Apple has incorporated recycled materials into AirPods components. As of the AirPods Pro 2 (2022), Apple reports using 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in the magnets, 100 percent recycled gold in the wire bonding of multiple chips, and recycled tin in the solder of the main logic board. AirPods packaging is now fiber-based with no outer plastic wrap.

The primary sustainability criticism of AirPods is repairability. iFixit has given multiple AirPods models a repairability score of 0 out of 10, citing the use of glue throughout the assembly that makes battery replacement effectively impossible without destroying the product. Apple offers a battery service for AirPods Pro at $49 per earbud and $79 for the case, but the product must be sent to Apple for service. For standard AirPods, Apple's official position is that the product should be recycled through Apple's Trade In or GiveBack programs when the battery degrades to the point of unusability.

Apple publishes annual Environmental Progress Reports disclosing per-product carbon footprints. The AirPods Pro 2 product carbon footprint is reported at 23 kg CO2e per unit, according to Apple's 2023 Environmental Progress Report.

• Red Dot Design Award (2017): The original AirPods received a Red Dot Product Design Award in 2017 for industrial design. The Red Dot Institute is an independent German design organization; this award is externally verified.
• iF Design Award (2017): AirPods received the iF Product Design Award 2017, awarded by the iF International Forum Design in Hanover, Germany.
• Red Dot Design Award (2020): AirPods Pro received a Red Dot Product Design Award in 2020.
• TIME Best Inventions (2019): TIME magazine named AirPods Pro to its Best Inventions of 2019 list.

Repairability and Right to Repair (Ongoing): iFixit has given AirPods models repairability scores of 0 out of 10 consistently since the original 2016 model. The sealed construction bonds components with adhesive, making battery replacement practically impossible without destroying the product. Right to repair advocates, including the Repair Association and organizations in the EU, have cited AirPods as an example of product design that creates forced obsolescence. The European Commission's Right to Repair Directive, adopted in April 2024, includes requirements for repairability that may affect future AirPods product design in European markets. Apple has not issued a formal response to the repairability criticism beyond offering paid battery replacement for AirPods Pro.

EU USB-C Mandate Compliance: The European Union's Common Charger Directive required consumer electronics sold in the EU to use USB-C charging from December 2024. Apple transitioned the iPhone 15 to USB-C in September 2023. AirPods Max was updated with USB-C in May 2024. Standard AirPods and AirPods Pro shifted to USB-C with the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 updates. Apple did not face fines or enforcement actions related to this transition.

Labor Conditions at Luxshare Factories (2021-2022): China Labor Watch published a report in 2021 alleging excessive overtime and labor standard violations at a Luxshare facility producing AirPods in Kunshan, China. Apple acknowledged the report and stated it investigated the claims. Apple's 2022 Supplier Responsibility Report stated that the facility was audited and placed on a corrective action plan. Apple did not release the full audit findings publicly. No regulatory enforcement action resulted from the report.

Bluetooth Radiation Petition (2019): In 2019, a group of scientists and researchers submitted a petition to the United Nations and World Health Organization calling for stronger safety standards for wireless devices, citing AirPods as an example of a device placed directly in the ear canal. Apple responded that AirPods comply with all applicable radio frequency exposure guidelines, which are set by the FCC in the United States. The WHO has not changed its guidelines on Bluetooth device exposure in response to the petition, and no regulatory finding was made against AirPods.

AirPods Max Condensation Issue (2020-2021): Shortly after the AirPods Max launch in December 2020, multiple users reported condensation forming inside the ear cups under certain temperature and humidity conditions. Apple acknowledged the reports and issued guidance advising against use in humid environments or during exercise. A replacement or repair program was not announced; users reporting the issue were handled case-by-case through AppleCare. The issue was not the subject of a formal recall.