QUESTION ONE $[30]$

Critically discuss the importance of the various corporate social responsibility initiatives towards Apple.

Today, Apple supports more than $2\mathrm{.}7$ million jobs across the country through direct employment, spending with US suppliers and manufacturers, and developer jobs in the thriving iOS app economy. Apple is the largest taxpayer in the US and has paid almost $$45$ billion in domestic corporate income taxes over the past five years alone.

Apple$$s $$430$ billion in contributions to the US economy include direct spend with American suppliers, data center investments, capital expenditures in the US$,$ and other domestic spend $$ including dozens of Apple TV$+$ productions across $20$ states, creating thousands of jobs and supporting the creative industry.

Establishing a New North Carolina Campus

As part of its investments and expansion, Apple plans to invest over $$1$ billion in North Carolina and will begin construction on a new campus and engineering hub in the Research Triangle area. The investment will create at least $3,000$ new jobs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, software engineering, and other cutting$-$edge fields.

Apple will also establish a $$100$ million fund to support schools and community initiatives in the greater Raleigh$-$Durham area and across the state, and will be contributing over $$110$ million in infrastructure spending to the $80$ North Carolina counties with the greatest need $$ funds that will go toward broadband, roads and bridges, and public schools. When up and running, Apple$$s investments are expected to generate over $$1\mathrm{.}5$ billion in economic benefits annually for North Carolina.

Expanding Apple$$s US Operations

Apple is on track to meet its $2018$ goal of creating $20,000$ new jobs in the US by $2023.$ With today$$s new commitment, Apple is setting a target of creating $20,000$ additional jobs in states across the country over the next five years.

Apple has also surpassed its $2018$ hiring commitments in Miami, New York, Pittsburgh, and Portland, Oregon.

As Apple grows its teams and operations in the US$,$ the company is committed to doing so in an environmentally responsible manner with a focus on renewable energy and green innovation. To date, nearly $60$ of Apple$$s US sites are LEED certified. Apple is carbon neutral for all of its operations in the US and around the world, and last year committed to be $100$ percent carbon neutral for its entire supply chain and products by $2030.$

Creating American Jobs with Manufacturers and Suppliers Nationwide

Apple$$s $$430$ billion US investments include working with more than $9,000$ suppliers and companies large and small in all $50$ states, supporting American job creation across dozens of sectors$,$ including silicon engineering, $5$G$,$ and manufacturing.

To foster innovation and growth in the sector, Apple launched its $$5$ billion Advanced Manufacturing Fund in $2017.$ Awards from the fund have led to breakthrough innovations in laser technology, sustainable material development, $5$G infrastructure, and other cutting$-$edge fields.

Apple is carbon neutral for all of its operations in the US and around the world, and last year committed to be $100$ percent carbon neutral for its entire supply chain and products by $2030.$