Early-career public-sector sustainability professionals reflect on VERGE 19

With its infinite life cycle, copper is a truly circular material that can be recycled over and over with no loss of its physical properties. With a global shift toward renewable resources and decarbonization, copper will play a key role in sustainable development. International Copper Association (ICA) members are invested in circular practices to meet future demand, close copper’s loop and increase recycling rates. Each person generates 270 kilograms, or 595 pounds, of waste annually. By 2050, experts expect this figure to grow 70 percent. That is more than double the population growth in the same period! Copper’s recyclability contributes to resource conservation, urban mining and recycling initiatives. Recycled copper already meets 35 percent of global copper demand. The current global end-of-life recycling rate for copper is 40 percent. In some parts of the world, such as the EU, China and Japan, more than half of all copper is recycled after use.