Someone leaked internal Apple email exchanges about Right to Repair to Ifixit; they reveal “internal debate, rife with uncertainty” - employees who have deep misgivings about dooming their work-product to become e-waste.
Of particular interest is the internal debate after Apple (surprisingly) published two excellent service manuals, which an Ifixit writer queried them on, asking if it was intentional.
An Apple spox wrote to the internal PR team: “Iit’s pretty clear things are happening in a vacuum and there is not an overall strategy…
“Plus, with one hand we are making these changes and the other is actively fighting Right to Repair legislation moving in 20 states without real coordination for how updated policies could be used to leverage our position.”
It looks like the service manual release was motivated by a desire to attain EPEAT green certification. As Ifixit points out, “these manuals have been online for a year. Has any harm come from it? Have lawsuits sprung out of the woodwork? We certainly haven’t heard of any.”
Apple is publishing “environmental progress reports” that stress the company’s commitment to repair and say “reuse is our first choice” - entirely new messages from the company.
As Ifixit points out: “Apple has an opportunity to push—nay, lead—the entire industry in a better direction. Durable, repairable, long-lasting products could be the norm.”
