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Copper Environmental Profile

Copper Environmental Profile

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The copper industry is committed to providing data and information to enable users of copper to evaluate its impacts and benefits across the life cycle.

As part of our commitment to sustainability, and to help our members improve their own processes, ICA has gathered information and data to enable the users of copper to evaluate its impact and benefits across the life cycle.

Part of this work is the Copper Environmental Profile, which features the results of ICA’s copper cathode Life cycle Assessment (LCA), the most representative and comprehensive industry global data set on copper cathode and concentrate to be made publicly available to date.  

The International Copper Association’s Copper Cathode Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) provides critical environmental information from mining to smelting and refining and, therefore, serves as an important foundation for full product life cycle studies. As with any material, the potential environmental impacts of copper are best understood by taking a full life cycle perspective e.g., when used as copper wire, copper’s electrical conductivity can improve the energy efficiency of energy-using products, making those products more sustainable during the use phase.

8.5 million tonnes

Amount of copper that comes from recycling each year.

More than 30 percent

Amount of copper originating from recycled sources over the last decade.

80 - 90 percent

Reduction in energy required for recycling copper, which is equivalent to taking 16 million passenger cars off the road.

Copper’s Environmental Profile

Major End Uses of Copper [ICA/IWCC]
Figure1
Copper Life Cycle
flowchart
Schematic Illustration of Copper Cathode Production
flowchart-2
Relative Results for Copper Cathode, by Category
Figure5

Copper Environmental Profile PDF

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From its original home in the earth’s crust to its long life in a finished product, such as electronics, cables, wire and tubes, copper passes through several stages.

The material produced from ores and concentrates is referred to as primary copper production. Secondary copper can also be produced by recycling scrap, as well as finished products, and has the same performance properties as primary material.

Learn more about this renewable resource’s life cycle
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  • About ICA
    • International Copper Association
    • Executive Team
    • Meet the Experts
    • International Copper Association Members
    • Board of Directors
    • Global Partnerships
  • Regional Hubs
    • Global
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • United States
  • Policy Focus
    • Advocacy and Dialogue
    • Climate and Environment
      • Air Quality
      • Energy Efficiency
      • Recycling
      • Renewable Energy
      • Sustainable Development
    • Health and Safety
      • Human Health
    • Society and Economy
      • Food Supply
      • Electrical Safety
      • Green Buildings
      • Circular Economy
      • Urban Mining
  • Trends and Data
    • Market Intelligence
    • Resource Library
    • Members Only
  • Spotlight
    • Thought-Leadership
    • Member Best Practices
    • In the News
  • Sustainable Copper
    • About Copper
      • Copper Environmental Profile
      • Copper Life Cycle
      • Copper Demand and Long-Term Availability
      • Copper: An Essential Resource
      • Copper in the Environment
      • Copper Attributes and Alloys
    • Power of Zero
    • Circular Economy
    • Copper LCA
    • Into the Modern Mine
    • UN SDGs
    • The Copper Mark
    • Copper Pathways Map
    • ICA Europe Policy Priorities 2024-2029
  • Search