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Circular Economy

Circular Economy

gustavo-quepon-129114-unsplash

Much of the world has already committed to ambitious targets to meet climate goals. Undoubtedly, these commitments to decarbonization and electrification of developing economies will influence copper demand. Copper, with its infinite life cycle, is a truly circular material.

The global end-of-life recycling rate for copper is 40 percent. In addition, more than 30 percent of global copper demand is already met with recycled copper.

To meet growing global ambitions, recycling needs to complement primary metal sources. According to the World Bank, the low-carbon, sustainable economy—with additional renewables and electric vehicles, greater energy efficiency and electrification—will require a nearly endless supply of metals, both from responsible mining and recycling.

ICA supports measures ensuring the market acceptance of both primary and secondary resources. ICA members, together with copper fabricators and other partners, collaborate closely with global policy makers to remove barriers and create market incentives for the use of secondary raw materials to close the loop.

ICA members are using cutting-edge technologies and innovative recycling processes, such as introducing scrap metals into the smelting process to recycle valuable raw materials and enhance efficiencies. This includes recycling intricate electronic devices and other increasingly complex products.

State-of-the-art recyclers can recover 20+ metals from complex copper products and applications.

Scrap-closeup-2_High-Res

24 million tonnes

of copper enter the global urban mine annually

13 million tonnes

reach the end-of-life phase and become available for recycling

To fully use the potential of the Urban Mine, in conjunction with the circular economy, a combination of adequate local infrastructure, skills and market conditions is needed.

Stocks & Flows

Global Pathways Map

Circular Economy Resources

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LS MnM Inc. Contributes to the Circular Economy Through ESG Partnership with SK Networks

Case Study
Copper Alliance

International Copper Association (ICA) member, LS MnM Inc., is promoting circular practices in South Korea…

14 October 2022

No Resources Lost: The Circular Opportunity of Industrial Symbiosis

Article | Industrial Symbiosis
Symeon Christofyllidis

By working together, industries can reduce waste by finding applications for byproducts of production, or…

By working together, industries can reduce waste by repurposing or finding applications for byproducts of production....

10 October 2022

Industrial Symbiosis: Copper Byproduct Iron Silicate Reduces Carbon Emissions in Construction Industry

Infographic | Decarbonisation
Copper Alliance

Copper byproduct iron silicate reduces carbon emissions in the construction industry through industrial symbiosis.

Copper byproduct iron silicate reduces carbon emissions in the construction industry through industrial symbiosis....

10 October 2022

Industrial Symbiosis: Reusing EV Batteries for Energy Storage Systems Can Extend Lifetime of Copper Applications

Infographic | Automotive
Copper Alliance

Through industrial symbiosis, reusing EV Batteries for energy storage systems can extend the lifetime of copper applications.

Through industrial symbiosis, reusing EV Batteries for energy storage systems can extend the lifetime of copper applications....

9 October 2022

Press Release: New Research Reveals Opportunities for Industrial Symbiosis in the Copper Industry

Press Release | Industrial Symbiosis
Copper Alliance
3 October 2022

Industrial Symbiosis opportunities for the copper sector

Presentation | Industrial Symbiosis
Symeon Christofyllidis

Quantification through an LCA study and a market analysis for two opportunities ...

22 September 2022

JX Nippon Mining and Metals Works to Build a Recycling-Oriented Society

Case Study
Copper Alliance

International Copper Association (ICA) member JX Nippon Mining and Metals Corporation is committed to building…

9 September 2022

Aurubis Plans First Smelter for Multimetal Recycling in the U.S.

Article | Industrial Symbiosis
Copper Alliance

International Copper Association (ICA) member Aurubis is expanding its international operations and building a new…

5 April 2022

Circular Production Practices Advance Industrial Symbiosis in the Copper Industry

Article | Industrial Symbiosis
Copper Alliance

ICA Members Rio Tinto, Aurubis and Boliden Take the Lead Industrial symbiosis, the concept of…

16 March 2022

Copper Recycling

Brochure | Copper Demand
Copper Alliance

The Importance of Recycling During the past decade, strong growth in emerging economies, coupled with…

10 February 2022

Circular Economy Cube Infographic

Infographic | Clean and Circular Economy
Copper Alliance

Copper is infinite & can be recycled with no loss of properties. A sustainable material pivotal to build the circular economy...

1 October 2021

Circular Copper Recycling in China: Current Practices and Future Trends

Article | Innovation
Copper Alliance

China has announced its net-zero target for carbon emissions by 2060. To meet this goal,…

16 June 2021

Commitment to the Circular Economy and Urban Mining Drives Copper Recycling in China

Article | China/Asia Market Development
Copper Alliance

Sustainability is at the forefront of China’s plans. The 14th Five-Year plan outlines targets for climate…

28 May 2021

Circular Copper: Building a Culture of Sustainability

Presentation
Copper Alliance

With its infinite life cycle, copper is a truly circular material that can be recycled…

26 May 2021

Circular Copper – Part 3

Video
Copper Alliance

Join ICA and its members in building a culture of sustainability—without waste....

26 May 2021
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About ICA

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Trends and Data

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Sustainable Copper

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International Copper Association is a not-for-profit trade association that brings together the global copper industry to develop and defend markets for copper and to make a positive contribution to the UN’s SDGs.

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