Copper - metal of the future

Copper is estimated to have been used by humans for close to 11 millennia and has been present at every stage of human civilization. It was one of the first metals to be mined and shaped into tools, weapons, and jewelry. In more recent times, copper has become an essential component of modern society.

It is conductive, malleable and ductile. It is a good thermal conductor, heating up and cooling down quickly. It is present in smartphones and computers, combustion engines and electric vehicles, as well as renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines and solar power panels.

It is also used in a wide range of industrial applications, including construction, electrical wiring, and plumbing. Due to its antibacterial properties, copper is also found in hospitals, on surfaces, and doorknobs. It’s used for statues and monuments. With its many uses, copper is integral to advancing our everyday life.

The world needs a significant amount of copper to meet the electrical transport and power resources required to achieve net-zero carbon ambitions by 2050. In 2021, the world consumed over 25 million tonnes of copper and it is predicted that demand for copper could near double within the next three decades.

Copper can be recycled without losing any of its properties. As such, recycling of this commodity can help narrow the gap between primary supply and the expected demand. It is a metal of the past and the future and – as demonstrated throughout history – has no shortage of opportunities for reinvention.