Copper

One of the best conductors of electricity, copper can be recycled repeatedly without damaging its performance, underlining the metal’s value for low carbon technologies.

Copper (Cu)

Copper is a malleable metal with multiple uses, including in construction, industrial machinery and equipment, electronics and communications, and electricity. Copper can be repeatedly recycled without impacting its performance and its conductivity means that it is a vital metal for renewable energy technologies. Chile is the biggest producer of mined and refined copper. Peru, China, DR Congo, and the United States are the next largest producers.

There are numerous perceived ESG issues associated with the copper supply chain, such as air and water pollution, and company-community conflict. DR Congo accounts for most reports linking copper to issues such as child labour at artisanal and small-scale mines. DR Congo only accounts for 6.4 percent of is on its way to becoming the second leading global production producer of copper, most of which is produced at large, industrial mines, however. Copper production associated with child labour therefore only accounts for a very small proportion of the material that enters global supply chains.

Main uses and applications

Copper is malleable, ductile, and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity; it is also resistant to corrosion, and it is antimicrobial.i These attributes underline its usefulness across multiple sectors. According to the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) cCopper is also one of a few metals that can be repeatedly recycled without degrading.ii The relative ease with which copper can be recycled makes it an attractive material in sectors that are working towards a circular economy.

The main uses for copper include electrical wiring and conductors, heat dissipators, cookware, water and gas piping, electrical appliances, coins, and machinery components. The ICSG identifies seven growth markets for copper:

Copper is used in renewable energy systems to generate power from solar, hydro, thermal and wind energy due to its ability to reduce CO2 emissions and lower the amount of energy needed to produce electricity.iii In many renewable energy systems, there is 5-6 times more copper than in traditional energy systems.iv

As an alternative to plastic in medical applications due to copper’s antimicrobial properties
In nets and pens in near-shore fish-farming
To provide electrical propulsion in electric vehicles
As a component of generators, motors and transformers in renewable energy plants
To provide seismic energy dissipation through copper-based devices to control earthquake damage
Ultra-conductive copper components to improve efficiency of electricity transmission and distribution
In motors, wiring, busbars and charging infrastructure in electric vehicles – which contain four times more copper than non-electric cars.v