When reserves reach their limits

Copper is one of the most important industrial metals of our time. It is needed in large quantities worldwide and is indispensable in energy, construction, transportation and high technology due to its unique properties. A complete replacement is hardly possible, which is why demand continues to increase with increasing population and economic growth. At the same time, the challenges are intensifying: production is concentrated in a few countries, ore grades are falling continuously, and thus energy consumption and CO₂ emissions are increasing. In addition, the recycling rates of many countries are well below their potential. Against this background, recycling is becoming increasingly important. It can relieve the geological reserves, reduce energy demand by up to 80 percent and make a significant contribution to reducing emissions. The study "Examining the influence of copper recycling on prospective resource supply and carbon emission reduction" by Chinese scientists investigated how sustainable the copper supply can be by 2100. The focus is on scenarios that capture the resource situation and emissions both globally and regionally. The study was published in "Fundamental Research".