January 13, 2012 — For the first time, Apple Inc. has publicly published a list of over 150 companies that the electronics giant says represent 97% of its procurement expenditures for materials, manufacturing, and assembly of products worldwide.

See the suppliers here: http://images.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/pdf/Apple_Supplier_List_2011.pdf

The disclosure is part of a broad supplier responsibility reporting initiative at Apple. The US-based company has had its ties to China’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer by revenue and the parent firm of Hong Kong-listed Foxconn International, scrutinized recently.

In 2011, Apple conducted 229 audits throughout its supply chain, an 80% increase over 2010. In 2011, the company launched a specialized auditing program to address environmental concerns about certain suppliers in China. Third-party environmental engineering experts worked with Apple to audit 14 facilities. Apple also broadened its age verification program in 2011. The full progress report is available from Apple at http://images.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/pdf/Apple_SR_2012_Progress_Report.pdf