Copper

One of the best conductors of electricity, copper is increasingly in demand for new technologies from electric vehicles to data centres.

Copper (Cu)

Copper is a malleable metal with many uses including in construction, industrial machinery and equipment, electronics and communications, and electricity. Copper can be repeatedly recycled without impacting its performance and its high conductivity means that it is vital for renewable energy technologies.

Chile is the biggest producer of mined and refined copper, and is also home to the largest identified reserves. DR Congo, Peru, and China are the next largest producers. There are numerous ESG issues associated in public reporting with the copper supply chain, such as air and water pollution and company-community conflict. In the Great Lakes Region of Africa, copper is linked to issues such as child labour, in particular at artisanal and small-scale mines. As of 2024, DR Congo is now the second leading global producer of copper, most of which is produced at large, industrial mines. Copper produced by ASM and thereby associated with child labour therefore only accounts for a very small proportion of the material that enters global supply chains. However, the impacts of large mines on communities and disputes with ASM remain a frequent point of reporting related to copper supply chains.

Main uses and applications

Copper is malleable, ductile, and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity; it is also resistant to corrosion, and has antimicrobial properties. These attributes underline its usefulness across multiple sectors. Copper is also one of a few metals that can be repeatedly recycled without degrading. The relative ease with which copper can be recycled makes it an attractive material in sectors that are working towards a circular economy.

The main uses for copper include electrical wiring and conductors, heat dissipators, cookware, water and gas piping, electrical appliances, coins, and machinery components.

Copper is used in renewable energy systems to generate power from solar, hydro, thermal and wind energy due to its ability to reduce CO₂ emissions and lower the amount of energy needed to produce electricity. In many renewable energy systems, there are up to six times more copper than in traditional energy systems.