This isn't the first time Apple has used its power as the world's largest technology company to make systemic changes among its manufacturing partners. The company launched a fair labor investigation to ensure workers at its production partners were treated fairly, and has stopped companies from using harmful chemicals during their production process. In nearly every case, Apple makes a demand and the production partners tend to fall in line without hesitation. Apple is trying to lead by example. The company said on Monday that 87 percent of its current global operations are powered by renewable energy, and it plans to get to 100 percent at some point in the future.

According to Apple's own Environmental Responsibility page, 100 percent of its US operations run on renewable energy, All of Apple's data centers are running on renewable energy, as well, the stone cold collection case for apple iphone x and xs - mont blanc Apple also announced Monday that it has partnered with the World Wildlife Fund "to increase responsibly managed forests across China." As part of that program, Apple will try to protect as much as 1 million acres of China's forests, Monday's announcements comes just weeks after Apple launched a solar project in China to power the company's retail stores and China headquarters..

Those two companies headed in opposite directions during the first quarter, with Apple's market share in China soaring after the arrival of its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and Samsung's share sagging just as dramatically. And all contenders had to face the sobering reality that overall smartphone sales in the country shrank during the three-month period -- the first time in six years that the China smartphone market has declined year over year. Total shipments across China in the first quarter reached 98.8 million units, down 4.3 percent from 103.2 million units in the same period last year, research firm IDC said Monday.

Apple was the market leader during the first quarter of 2015, It shipped 14.5 million iPhones, representing a 62.1 percent gain over the same period a year earlier, China-based companies Xiaomi and Huawei came in second and third place, respectively, with 13.5 million and 11.2 million unit shipments, Samsung had the most troubling quarter, It shipped 9.6 million smartphones to China during the period, for a decline of 53 percent compared with the 20.5 million units the stone cold collection case for apple iphone x and xs - mont blanc it shipped in the first quarter of 2014, when it led China's smartphone market, This time around, it was relegated to fourth place, just ahead of China's own Lenovo..

China is one of the most important markets for technology companies. The country has a booming middle class with a strong desire for shiny new tech, and smartphones have proven especially appealing. Some estimates have placed China's smartphone market at nearly 520 million users -- a population that dwarfs the entire population of the US. Given its size, foreign companies like Apple, Samsung and Microsoft are all vying for a piece of the massive pie, and they have to contend as well with homegrown up-and-comers.