Apple's next big patent is a paper bag

2 months ago

When big tech companies file patents for new innovations, people tend to take notice – however Apple’s latest filing has attracted attention for different reasons.

The iPhone maker has filed a patent application for, of all things, a paper bag.

The application describes the bag as ” formed entirely of: the solid bleached sulfate paper with at least 60% post-consumer content, and adhesive”. In short that means a paper bag made from 60% recycled material, held together with a small amount of adhesive.

If you’ve been to an Apple Store recently and think this sounds familiar you’re on to something – the bags are in fact already in use and have been for some time, alongside white plastic ones. It appears Apple now wants to lock down their design so others can’t follow.

Apple has made significant public steps to improve the environmental status of the company in recent years – they introduced a robot called Liam earlier in 2016 to help take apart old iPhone handsets for recycling, and in 2015, the company says, 93% of its energy came from renewable sources.

The tech giant is likely to be handing out a fair few of the bags at the moment, with the new iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 having gone on sale last week, with multiple versions of the iPhone 7 Plus having sold out already.

However, this latest patent move prompted a few jokes, and some disbelief, on social media.