Climate and Environment
Driving progress toward a greener planet
Many sustainable solutions critical for fighting climate change—from renewable energy infrastructure to electric vehicles—rely on copper. The metal alone cannot be the solution, so ICA and its members work to ensure environmentally responsible practices and clean-energy technologies are at the heart of the copper value chain.
Copper’s life is infinite and has no end phase. Once mined, it can be recycled over and over with no loss of properties—making copper pivotal to building the circular economy. In fact, an International Energy Agency (IEA) report shows a significant amount of copper in use in many key renewable energy technologies, including offshore wind turbines and photovoltaic panels.
ICA members are determined to find solutions to reduce emissions and their impact on the environment. From using electric mining vehicles to employing desalinization techniques, the copper industry is committed to efficiency and reducing its environmental footprint.
To show their commitment to responsible production and supply chains, ICA members participate in the Copper Mark, a credible assurance framework demonstrating responsible production practices and the copper industry’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.
Featured Resources
BHP Billiton Produces First Carbon Neutral Copper Cathode with Southwire
Copper producer BHP Billiton has collaborated with U.S. copper cable and wire manufacturer Southwire to…
Copper Recycling
The Importance of Recycling During the past decade, strong growth in emerging economies, coupled with…
