2007:
1,389,000 people purchased iPhones.
2011:
72,300,000 people purchased iPhones. That's 52x as many as when it was launched.
2008
2011
It was also Apple's most profitable year in history:
$108.25 Billion
But before it can start bringing in the money, the iPhone travels a long road to reach the happy hands of Apple aficionados—and it all starts with the elements.
Coltan contains a heat-resistant substance that can hold a high electrical charge, and is a staple component of every iPhone.
Up to 80% of the world's coltan reserves are located in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Over 18 months of bloody warfare, the Rwandan army made over $250 million stealing coltan from the DR Congo.
As they're being produced, little phones have a big impact on the environment, and it's starting to show.
In 2011, Apple conducted 229 audits amongst its 158 global suppliers.
did not monitor and control air emissions.
did not recycle or dispose of hazardous waste as required by law.
had not properly stored or handled hazardous chemicals.
of China's state-monitored rivers are classified as unsuitable for human contact.
Each year, 750,000 Chinese citizens die from air pollution.
By the year 2030, China's carbon dioxide emissions could equal the entire world's C02 production today.
Pricey products come from cheap labor. But what's the real cost?
One of Apple's most notorious supplier plants is manufacturing titan Foxconn.
At a single factory in Shenzhen, China, 90 iPhones are produced every minute.
That's $17,910 worth of iPhones: 11 times what a Foxconn factory worker makes in a year.
2007:18 Workers attempted suicide at a Foxconn plant.
One year later, 50 workers threatened to do the same.
You have your iPhone. Now what?
There are over 5 million iPhone apps available
About 1 billion apps purchased each month. At an average cost of $1.37 per app, that's about $16.4 billion in apps each year.
From 2007 to the release of 2011's 4s, Apple's iPhone profits have grown by over 137%
This growth is expected to continue with the release of the iPhone 5 in 2012.
As iPhones have gained popularity, over half the population has developed nomophobia: fear of being without a cell phone.
When a new iPhone appears, old models fall into disuse.
With iPhone generations appearing, it's estimated that in the U.S. in 2011, as many as 36,750,000 iPhones were discarded in favor of the newer model.
Up to 80% of recycled iPhones are shipped to places like Guiyu, China, where they're stripped of valuable parts.
Because of the waste in Guiyu:
Pregnant women there are six times more likely to miscarry.
7 out of 10 children have too much lead in their blood.
Guiyu has the highest levels of cancer-causing dioxins in the world.
Reusing your old iPhone by selling to a friend or to a used electronics shop extends the life of your iPhone and maximizes its usage
If you're going to recycle your phone, ask questions. Get in touch with your local electronics recycler and inquire into their methods.
In its first weekend alone, 1.7 million iPhone 4s were sold, but the 4S model was released only 16 months later.
You can also email Apple with your own questions or comments at supplierresponsibility@apple.com