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Recycled Copper
Copper is essential for electrification and the core of what we do at Nexans. It is also a major contributor to emissions in the industry. In fact, copper accounts for 30% of our CO2 emissions at Nexans Grimsås* and up to 80% of the emissions from an installation cable.
This makes copper a central part of both Nexans' and our customers' path toward net zero.
Global demand for copper is increasing rapidly and is soon expected to exceed the available global supply**. This shortage, combined with the carbon footprint of copper production, makes responsible copper sourcing a highly important and strategic issue for Nexans.
Nexans' Global Goal: At Least 30% Recycled Copper by 2030**
Increasing the share of recycled copper is crucial for the industry—not only to reduce carbon emissions but also to avoid unnecessary mining and secure supply.
In addition, recycled copper has a lower impact on nature, biodiversity, and land use.
As a major player in the industry, we have a responsibility to increase the share of recycled copper, as well as to spread awareness and emphasize circularity among both the industry and consumers.
This is why we are now promoting recycled copper as a “good” choice.
France, Peru, and Chile) and have a joint venture in cable recycling (RecyCable in France). This knowledge and network are also a strength when it comes to local sourcing for the Nordic market.
When it comes to sourcing raw materials such as metals, we primarily work with long-term partnerships (usually 5 years) to ensure supply and avoid the spot market, where there is a higher risk of losing control over the source.
Through our partnerships, we push for third-party verifications and performance assessments such as Ecovadis and Copper Mark to ensure compliance with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) requirements.
Grimsås' commitment: at least one-third recycled copper in purchases
Through our supplier partnerships, we are committed to using an average of at least 33% recycled material in our copper cathodes***. The recycled copper can come from both industrial and consumer waste (pre- & post-consumer).
Our copper cathodes are then sent to copper rod manufacturers. At this stage, the copper we purchase can be mixed with other copper flows during the melting process. Copper rods (in the same quantity as the delivered cathodes) are then sent to Grimsås and used in our cables.
Similar to certificates for renewable energy, we contribute to adding recycled copper into the system, even though it is not traceable in every single cable. This method is sometimes referred to as a credit-based mass balance.
We estimate that 1/3 recycled copper reduces our emissions by 1.5 tons of CO2 per ton of copper*****, which amounts to several thousand tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to several hundred flights around the world.
These carbon savings are a crucial step in our Nordic efforts to halve our emissions from cradle to shelf by 2030, and align with our global goal to reach net zero by 2050 (Scope 1, 2, and 3)******.
Good News for Nexans EASY Cables!
1.5 kg CO2 per kg of copper translates to approximately a 10-20% lower carbon footprint for our EASY cables, depending on the cable's cross-section.
An electrician who installs about 40 km of installation cable per year can reduce their emissions by roughly two tons of CO2 annually, which is estimated to represent 10-20% of their yearly emissions.
“ By introducing recycled copper, we are promoting circularity and taking an important step towards our SBTi goals – benefiting both the planet and our customers ”
Jenny Nyström
Sustainability Manager and Design Lab Manager| CAN WE CLAIM THAT OUR CABLES ALWAYS CONTANT AT LEAST 1/3 COPPER? | CAN WE PROVE THAT OUR CABLES HAVE 10-20% LOWER CARBON FOOTPRINT COMPARED TO A CABLE WHITOUT RECYCLED COPPER? | IS CREDIT-BASED MASS BALANCE CHEATING? | IS IT TOO SIMPLE AND MISLEADING TO CALL IT "GOOD"? |
|---|---|---|---|
| - NO, WE CANNOT. BUT AT A SYSTEM LEVEL, WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT WE HAVE PURCHASED A CORRESPONDING AMOUT OF RECYCLED COPPER. | - YES, OUR LCA CALCULATIONS DEMONSTRATE THIS. HOWEVER, ECOPLATFORM, EPD INTERNATIONAL, AND PEP ECO PASSPORT CURRENTLY DO NOT RECOGNIZE CREDIT-BASED MASS BALANCE, WHICH MEANS WE CANNOT REFLECT THIS IN OUR EPD/PEP DOCUMENTS. - IN FACT, IT'S A REQUIREMENT, BOTH FOR US AND OUR CUSTOMERS, IF WE ARE TO MEET OUR CARBON REDUCTION TARGETS. |
- CREDIT-BASED MASS BALANCE WORKS SIMILARY TO PURCHASING RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY - YOU SUPPORT A BETTER SYSTEM, EVEN IF THE SPECIFIC PRODUCT ISN'T GUARANTEED TO CONTAIN RECYCLED MATERIAL. FULL TRACEABILITY, FOR EVERY BATCH ISN'T YET POSSIBLE, BUT WE'RE WORKING TOWARD THAT GOAL. THAT IS WHY WE, IN OUR LOCAL MARKET, ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THIS IS THE NEXT BEST THING TO DO******* - THAT'S WHY WE CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT BY CHOOSING CABLES LIKE NEXANS EASY, PRODUCED LOCALLY IN GRIMSÅS WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY AND DERIVED FROM 33% RECYCLED COPPER, YOU CAN FEEL "GOOD" ABOUT YOUR CHOICE. |
- SUSTAINABILITY CAN BE QUITE COMPLEX WITH TERMS LIKE "CREDIT-BASED MASS BALANCE" ETC. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS COMPLEXITY DOESN'T PREVENT US FROM DUSCUSSING ALL THE SMALL ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WITH OUR "GOOD"-CAMPAIGN, WE AIM TO SPARK REFLECTION AMONG ELECTRICIANS, AND WITH THIS TEXT, WE WANT TO BE BOTH TRANSPARENT AND CLEAR, ENSURING NO ONE FEELS MISLED. |
| * Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cradle to Shelf, using global average emissions estimates according to the International Copper Association (ICA). ** Learn more here: https://www.nexans.com/perspectives/copper-odyssey *** This is self-declared by our suppliers through percentage-based mass balance and is regularly monitored by our procurement department. **** Cradle to Shelf ***** Recycled copper, according to current carbon accounting practices, is considered to have zero emissions during the manufacturing phase. Our life cycle analysis (LCA A1-A3) demonstrates a savings of 1.5 tons of greenhouse gases per ton of copper compared to global average emissions, as estimated by ICA: 3.96 tons CO2 equivalents. ****** Compared to the base year of 2019 ******* Note: Current building certification standards may not recognize these emission reductions due to limitations with mass balance. For your organization's carbon reporting, this allows adjustments to scope 3 emissions accordingly, if you know how much copper you are using from Nexans Grimsås. |
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