2. Introduction
In 2009, the International Copper Association, Ltd. (ICA) and its members
launched the Copper Stewardship initiative, which provides a shared vision
for guiding long-term planning and taking action on the immediate market
demands facing the industry.
The purpose of this brochure is to provide stakeholders, including
manufacturers, recyclers, the consumer public, government regulators,
and the media with an overview of the global copper industry’s approach to
environmental and social responsibility.
In practice, Copper Stewardship is about:
• Safeguarding human health and the environment;
• Supporting and disseminating knowledge and sound science;
• Applying life cycle and risk assessment approaches, and best
management practices;
• Maximizing recycling;
• Engaging with stakeholders.
Copper Stewardship encompasses all aspects of the copper value
chain as illustrated below:
“Copper Stewardship is a
process for continuously
increasing the value
to society of copper
and copper uses in a
responsible, accountable
and concerned manner.”
- ICA members, ICA network and
Original Equipment Manufacturers,
May 2005, New York City.
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1. Measure industry impacts
2. Communicate performance
3. Continually improve industry
performance
4. Enhance the customer’s value
proposition
5. Promote system-wide
innovation
Economic
Performance
Social
Performance
Environmental
Performance
Corporate
Governance
Socio-
Economic
Eco-
Efficiency
Socio-
Environmental
Sustainable Development
Copper Value Chain
Copper Stewardship Priorities
Copper Stewardship Framework.
Sustainable Development is the vision, and
Copper Stewardship is our industry’s course
of action to achieve that vision.
Waste
End Use
Manufacture Fabrication
Smelting and
REfining
Mining and
Processing
Exploration
Recycling
End-of-Life
Management
3. Primary Copper
Exploration, Mining and Processing
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The f rst stage of the copper value chain is known as the “primary copper
industry” – a term that encompasses the exploration for, and the mining
and processing of, copper. Copper is mined throughout the world. The
highest copper-producing countries are Chile, USA, Peru, China, Australia,
Indonesia, Russia, Canada and Zambia.
Sustainability issues relating to this part of the copper value chain are
varied and depend on the life cycle stage of the mine. At the front end,
the environmental impacts of roads, camps and equipment associated
with mine exploration, need to be addressed. During the development of
mining operations, community relations become paramount as companies
establish their social licences to operate. During mining operations, sound
management practices are required specif cally in relation to worker health
and safety, air emissions (including greenhouse gas emissions) and
potential environmental impacts from waste products. Finally, at the end of
a mine’s life, emphasis shifts towards the potential social, economic and
environmental impacts associated with mine closure and reclamation.
The primary copper industry has done a great deal to address these issues.
Individual companies have implemented rigorous sustainable development
programs, and the copper industry as a whole can point to signif cant
improvements in a number of important indicators such as: signif cant
reductions in air emissions; innovative recovery of by-products; and
improved energy eff ciencies.
Even with these achievements, ICA and its member companies recognize
that there are always opportunities for improvement. This drive for
continuous improvement is reinforced by industry commitments to the
International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), and by voluntary and
regulatory schemes in the companies’ respective regions of operation.
This mining tailings deposition area in Indonesia has
been reclaimed with natural vegetation. The regular
appearance of fish-preying birds signals the presence
of abundant aquatic life.
The copper industry
can point to: significant
reductions in air emissions;
innovative recovery of by-
products; and improved
energy efficiencies.
Case Study:
Supporting Biodiversity Research
in Papua, Indonesia
PT Freeport Indonesia is the largest
copper- and gold-mining company
in Indonesia. It is located in the
Indonesian Province of Papua on the
island of New Guinea. The entire
region of southern Papua has one
of the highest levels of biodiversity
in Southeast Asia – with 18 of the
World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) “Global
200 Ecoregions,” 24 of Bird Life
International’s 218 “Endemic Bird
Areas,” and some of the most pristine
coral reefs in the world.
Over many years, Freeport has funded
a series of comprehensive surveys of
the area’s biodiversity in conjunction
with Indonesian and international
experts. The collection and inventory
of species, including newly discovered
plants and animals, from these surveys
have greatly enhanced the national
and regional understanding of the f ora
and fauna native to this poorly-known
region, while also facilitating effective
biodiversity management.
4. Secondary Copper
Recycling
Around 40% of the world’s annual copper usage is met through recycling.
Copper-bearing scrap materials are recovered from the many fabrication
processes involved in the copper value chain as well as from end-of-life
applications, such as the wiring and plumbing installations from building
demolition and the dismantling of a wide range of consumer and industrial
products, e.g., vehicles, appliances, components, electronic equipment and
motors. The scrap is then processed in highly sophisticated facilities that
guarantee treatment in an environmentally-responsible manner. The quality
of copper produced through recycling is of the same high calibre as copper
produced from primary raw materials.
There are many environmental benef ts to recycling copper. It saves
energy (recycling uses 20% of the energy required to produce primary
metal), reduces emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants,
extends the life of natural resources, reduces dependence on imported raw
materials and keeps valuable land from being used for landf lls. One of the
key sustainability goals of this stage of the copper value chain is therefore
to maximize copper recycling and capture the associated benef ts for the
environment.
Today, there are over 140 national and international laws, regulations,
directives and guidelines that encourage the responsible management
of consumer products at the end of their useful life. Nevertheless, the
enforcement of these laws and regulations, especially those related to
transportation and treatment, remains a challenge. The secondary copper
industry is working with regulators to ensure that copper recycling is
conducted only in facilities that adhere to high environmental standards.
One of the key sustainability
goals at this stage of the
copper value chain is to
maximize copper recycling
and capture the associated
benefits for the environment.
Case Study:
Leading the Way
in Electronics Recycling
Aurubis’ recycling centre in Lunen,
Germany, sets the worldwide benchmark
for the environmentally friendly
reprocessing of copper scrap.
In addition to copper, Aurubis recovers
the mix of metals present in materials,
such as end-of-life electronic equipment.
As the regulatory requirements for
recycling increase, Aurubis has adapted
its processes to accommodate the
increased complexity of its input
materials. As one example, due to the
higher contents of organic materials,
such as plastics, the company has
adapted its main smelting processes as
well as those used to treat air emissions
and wastewater.
Continuous investments to improve
technology and environmental protection
have meant, for example, that since
1990, the specif c carbon emissions at
the Lunen site alone have been reduced
by 68%.
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Copper-bearing scrap materials are derived from a number
of sources including the dismantling of a wide range of
products (vehicles, appliances, components, electronic
equipment and motors) at their end-of-life.
5. 5
Copper in Use
Fabrication and Manufacturing
The primary and secondary copper industries ship copper to fabricators
mainly as cathodes (sheets of 99.9% pure copper) for further processing.
Fabricators then convert the copper metal into wire (for electrical and
electronic applications), pipes (for delivering drinking water), sheets
(for constructing buildings), and a variety of other shapes. These semi-
fabricated copper and copper-alloyed shapes are then shipped to
downstream users for f nal manufacturing into an enormous variety of
useful end products.
Due to its outstanding electrical conductivity, copper’s main use – some
65% of production – is as the material of choice for electric and electronic
purposes. Communication technologies, transportation equipment, and
renewable energy production all depend on copper. Other important end
uses include building construction, industrial machinery and equipment, and
consumer products.
Today, sustainability concerns such as climate change and resource
conservation are providing new opportunities and responsibilities for
fabricators and manufacturers of copper products. Initiatives to improve
energy eff ciency – for example in electricity generation and use, in air
conditioners and in domestic appliances – have resulted in increased
demand for copper.
Resource conservation is leading towards achieving greater performance
from one tonne of copper. Alloy technology, along with precision
processing, is helping the industry deliver thinner products that support the
miniaturization of applications, such as consumer electronics.
At the same time, manufacturers of copper products are taking a fresh
look at new applications for copper and what their role might be in terms of
extended producer responsibility.
Today, sustainability
concerns such as climate
change and resource
conservation are providing
new opportunities and
responsibilities for fabricators
and manufacturers of copper
products.
Case Study:
Innovation along
the Copper Value Chain
Siemens is a global leader in providing
motors for the industrial, infrastructure
and construction sectors.
The company’s new line of ultra eff cient
motors looks just like their standard
eff ciency line, but with one key difference.
The rotating part of the motor, called the
rotor, is made of copper.
Because of its higher conductivity, a
copper rotor has less electrical resistance
than one made with other materials. This
means that these motors run cooler, can
last longer and consume less energy.
Siemens’ new ultra eff cient motor
provides a clear example of innovation
and collaboration along the copper
value chain. The International Copper
Association and the Copper Development
Association (USA) invested several
years of research and development
efforts to develop a process to die
cast copper rotors. Siemens was the
instrumental partner in determining the
economic feasibility and prof tability of
commercializing the technology.
Motors are used to heat and cool buildings,
pump water, and power many industrial
processes. A new product line of industrial
motors – using copper – consumes less
energy than other motors.
6. The Path Forward
The International Copper Association (ICA) and its member companies
have identif ed f ve priority actions to focus industry efforts on addressing
sustainability along the copper value chain. These actions are structured
to help manage risk effectively and reduce environmental impacts by
stimulating innovative solutions for customers and end users.
These priorities are:
1. Measure industry impacts
ICA uses well accepted risk assessment and life cycle assessment
methodologies to measure the environmental impacts of copper along its
value chain and to use the end results to compile environmental prof les for
copper-containing products. ICA and its members use these tools to support
communication with regulators and policy makers, as well as to support the
manufacturers of copper-containing products in meeting their market needs.
2. Communicate performance
ICA and its member companies are engaging with architects, builders,
manufacturers, regulators and consumers to track and address stakeholders’
requirements and concerns. This engagement guides the industry’s
communications strategy so that it delivers the appropriate messages in a
format and medium best suited to each audience.
3. Continually improve industry performance
ICA and its member companies recognize that reducing the impacts
associated with production enhances the competitiveness of copper-
containing products in a market that is increasingly concerned with social
and environmental impacts. To this end, ICA acts as a clearinghouse
for information on its members’ activities, including their efforts towards
continuous improvement in health, safety and environmental performance.
4. Enhance the customer’s value proposition
Copper has many unique functional properties of which customers and end
users of copper-containing products may not be fully aware, such as its
antimicrobial properties, high electrical conductivity and outstanding ability
to be continuously recycled. ICA is working with customers and end users
of copper-containing products to help them share information and identify
opportunities where copper provides a real contribution to sustainability.
5. Promote system-wide innovation
This priority is about opening a dialogue around what the future may offer,
and what contributions the whole copper value chain may make. ICA is
playing a key role in promoting dialogue on emerging trends and innovations
in sustainable development by bringing together stakeholder groups from
different stages of the copper value chain to identify needs, brainstorm ideas
and facilitate activities that support system-wide innovation.
Copper has many unique
functional properties that
customers may not be
fully aware of, such as its
antimicrobial properties,
high electrical conductivity
and outstanding ability to be
continuously recycled.
Case Study:
Copper’s Role in the Fight
against Hospital Infections
The copper industry has come together
to answer a very important question:
Can copper and copper alloys (brass
and bronze) help curb the spread of
bacteria that cause hospital- acquired
infections?
Test results indicate that they can*. The
evidence is convincing. As a result, the
United States Environmental Protection
Agency has registered over 280 copper
alloys as antimicrobial materials.
For years, infection control programs
in hospitals have employed two main
methods to minimize bacteria in the
environment: hand-washing and the
regular cleaning and disinfection of
surfaces. Using copper alloys for
touch surfaces and equipment such as
hospital beds, handrails and doctors’
pens is now emerging as a strong
third weapon to supplement these two
traditional infection control practices.
* Laboratory testing shows that, when cleaned regularly, Antimicrobial Copper™
kills greater than 99.9% of the following bacteria within 2 hours of exposure:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant
enterococcus faecalis (VRE), Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and E. coli O157:H7. Antimicrobial Copper surfaces
are a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices.
Like other antimicrobial products, they have been shown to reduce microbial
contamination, but do not necessarily prevent cross contamination; users must
continue to follow all current infection control practices.
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7. 7
Conclusion
Through its Copper Stewardship initiative, the copper industry has
taken action and continues to move forward in its understanding of, and
commitment to, sustainable development. This requires the input and
cooperation of all stakeholders along the copper value chain, from the
primary, secondary and fabrication industries, to users, product designers
and engineers, as well as policy makers, regulators and non-governmental
organisations. The ICA hopes that its Copper Stewardship initiative will help
stimulate ideas to promote such cooperation.
The International Copper Association, Ltd. (ICA) is the leading organization
for promoting the use of copper worldwide. Its mission is to increase
awareness and usage of copper by communicating the unique attributes
that make copper an essential contributor to health, to advances in science
and technology and to a higher standard of living throughout the world.
The Association’s 37 member companies represent the majority of the
world’s ref ned copper output and are among the largest copper producers,
fabricators, and wire and cable companies in the world.
If you would like to help contribute to our vision, please contact us at:
International Copper Association, Ltd.
260 Madison Avenue, 16th
Floor
New York, NY 10016-2401
United States
Phone: (212) 251-7240
Fax: (212) 251-7245
E-mail: info@copperinfo.com
www. copperinfo.com
Through its Copper
Stewardship initiative, the
copper industry has taken
action and continues to move
forward in its understanding
of, and commitment to,
sustainable development.
Case Study:
A Partnership Approach
to the Duty of Care
The copper industry was the f rst in
Europe to undertake a Voluntary Risk
Assessment – a scientif c study to
evaluate the potential risks of a substance
to humans and the environment.
Conducted in partnership with Italy’s
Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National
Institute of Health), the Copper Voluntary
Risk Assessment demonstrated that
the production, use and end-of-life
phases of copper are generally safe
for the environment, the health of
industry workers and the public. It also
identif es specif c situations for which risk
management actions may be required.
The Voluntary Risk Assessment is an
example of how the copper industry is
proactively meeting its responsibilities to
society and is well advanced in meeting
its obligations under the European
Union’s REACH regulation (Registration,
Evaluation and Authorisation of
Chemicals).
Copper’s excellent electrical and thermal
conductivity put it at the core of renewable
energy technologies. For example, a typical
1.5 MW capacity wind turbine uses about 4
tonnes of copper for the cabling, voltage
transformer and gearbox.
