A new look at copper’s life cycle by the International Copper Association is the most detailed environmental impact snapshot yet.
ICA’s new developed Copper Environmental Profile outlines its impact and benefits across the life cycle, featuring the most comprehensive global data set on copper cathode and concentrate available to date.
The study included a cradle-to-gate life cycle inventory from the extraction of copper ore to the production of copper cathode, both primary and secondary. It includes production from four continents-North & South America, Asia and Europe-and is representative of ICA member copper concentrate and cathode for the reference year 2013.
The results highlight hot spots for our members across multiple environmental impact categories (e.g. energy demand, global warming), while providing the necessary building blocks for life cycle assessments involving copper conducted globally.
The study confirms, among other things, the need for the copper industry to continue its efforts on the reduction of on-site sulfur dioxide emissions and to play its role in advocating for environmentally preferable sources of electricity in the regions in which copper is produced.
The LCA results will help the ICA and our members to enhance our contribution to sustainable development and identify priority issues for further improving our environmental performance.
ICA says it is committed to repeating this process at regular intervals in the future.
Full Profile: http://copperalliance.org/2017/12/13/copper-environmental-profile-most-comprehensive-data-set-on-copper-production/