Sustainability Language

Circular Economy & Materials

Copper

A highly conductive metal described by the IEA as the cornerstone of all electricity-related technologies, central to electrification and grid expansion.

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Definition

Copper is a base metal whose electrical and thermal conductivity make it the default material for wiring, motors, transformers and power grids. The International Energy Agency identifies copper as the cornerstone of electricity-related technologies and a critical mineral for clean energy transitions: under its Sustainable Development Scenario, clean-energy technologies account for more than 40 per cent of total copper demand by 2040, while announced supply projects meet only about 80 per cent of projected 2030 needs.

References

Overview

What it means

Electrifying transport and energy multiplies copper demand — an electric car uses around six times the minerals of a conventional car, with copper a leading component.

How it is used

Copper features in critical-minerals strategies, recycling policy (it is infinitely recyclable) and debates over mining's social and environmental footprint.

Why it matters

Copper supply is a potential bottleneck for the energy transition, linking decarbonisation goals to mining governance, recycling and material efficiency.

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