The Use of Recycled Materials Not Guaranteeing Eco-Friendly Outcomes in Every Case
In the pursuit of a greener future, companies are under pressure to reduce their carbon footprints and align their operations with global climate goals. One such industry making strides in this regard is the production of transformers and cables, where the use of recycled copper has been found to significantly reduce carbon emissions.
A recent pilot project, involving the mapping of a three-tier supply chain, aimed to evaluate whether using recycled copper in transformer production resulted in lower carbon emissions compared to using virgin-mined copper. The results were striking. Recycled copper consumes only about 18% of the energy required for producing virgin copper, leading to large reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. During manufacturing phases, savings in emissions have been reported to be as high as 82% to 86%.
For instance, a Nexans cable prototype made with 100% recycled copper showed a 76% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the same cable made with virgin copper. This significant reduction is primarily due to the energy savings and prevention of greenhouse gas emissions associated with mining and raw material processing.
Recycling copper avoids the energy-intensive extraction and processing needed for mined copper, which is a major source of carbon emissions. In the context of transformer production, recycling centers have enabled reduced emissions not only through copper recycling but also by preventing the release of other potent greenhouse gases like sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). The combined effect of recycling copper and handling hazardous waste responsibly contributes significantly to lowering the overall carbon footprint of the power grid infrastructure.
Moreover, copper's ability to be recycled repeatedly without degradation in quality supports circular economy practices. This reduces the need for mining, saving natural resources and reducing emissions. Industries are increasingly incorporating recycled copper in products, aiming to integrate at least 25% recycled copper in their production lines by 2028 to achieve sustainability targets.
However, it's important to note that while recycling is essential for a sustainable future, it is not inherently low-emission. Collaboration across the entire supply chain is necessary to uncover a product's full emissions profile and identify areas for improvement. Tools and methods for carbon accounting are improving, and companies that commit to such discipline will gain a competitive advantage as data-driven decision-making and transparent, verifiable accounting across supply chains are key to achieving true sustainability.
In summary, the use of recycled copper in transformer and cable production results in substantially lower carbon emissions compared to virgin-mined copper. This makes it a much more sustainable choice environmentally. However, green innovation relies on precise measurement and accountability, rather than assumptions, to ensure that recycling remains a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.
In the realm of environmental science, the incorporation of recycled copper in the production of transformers and cables is proving to have a significant impact on climate-change mitigation, as its use consumes less energy and results in lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin-mined copper. Furthermore, in the business world, industries are striving to increase the use of recycled copper in their operations, with a goal of integrating at least 25% recycled copper by 2028 to enhance their financial sustainability by aligning with global climate goals.
