Apple will modify executive bonuses based on environmental values in 2021

By Stephen Nellis

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Apple Inc said in its annual proxy filing on Tuesday that it will modify executive cash bonuses based on whether the executives act within the company's social and environmental values.

But the iPhone maker did not specify how it would evaluate progress toward the company's publicly stated targets such as removing carbon from its supply chain.

Apple lists six values that include environmental practices such as using recycled materials in products, diversity and inclusion among its workforce and the privacy and security of its devices.

"Beginning in 2021, an environmental, social, and governance modifier based on Apple Values and other key community initiatives will be incorporated into our annual cash incentive program," the filing said.

Apple said its minimum performance requirements, its targets and its maximum payouts of cash bonuses to executives will not change.

But the compensation committee of its board of directors will use the new modifier to increase or decrease bonus payouts by up to 10% "based on the Compensation committee’s evaluation of our named executive officers’ performance with respect to Apple Values and other key community initiatives during 2021."

The filing did not detail how the committee would evaluate executives based on progress toward Apple's publicly announced goals around its values.

In July, Apple said it plans to remove carbon emissions from its entire business, including its products and sprawling supply chain, by 2030. At the time the company said it aimed to achieve 75% of the goal by reducing emissions, with the remaining 25% coming from carbon removal or offset projects such as planting trees and restoring habitats.

Apple cited the new modifier in its recommendation to vote against a shareholder proposal to reduce executive pay relative to the median employee pay at Apple. Chief Executive Tim Cook's 2020 compensation of $14.8 million was 256 times greater than the median Apple compensation of $57,783.

"America’s ballooning executive compensation is neither responsible for the society nor sustainable for the economy, especially under the current pandemic crisis. Reducing the (named executive officer) pay ratios should be included to the principles of executive compensation program," the proposal reads.

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San FranciscoEditing by Chris Reese and Matthew Lewis)