Copper is critical

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Two-thirds of the copper produced since 1900 is still being used. Few other resources can match that figure, and as environmental sustainability rises to the top of the global agenda, it makes sense that manufacturers will want to be seen as agents of positive change. Every year, 8.5 million tons of copper are recycled. 

The number of roadworthy electric and hybrid vehicles is expected to reach 27 million by 2027. 

Compared to the internal combustion engine, battery-powered vehicles require approximately more than 130 lb of copper. All of those electric and hybrid vehicles add up to 600,000 tons of additional copper demand by 2027.

All over the world, people face severe droughts, flooding, and contaminated water supplies. Population growth, global warming, and inefficient infrastructure amplify these trends.

As a durable, recyclable, and impermeable material, copper will be critical in delivering clean water.

Sectors previously confined to fossil fuels are becoming increasingly electrified. The result is millions of new appliances, air conditioners, refrigerators, and vehicles in need of power. Much of that power will be carried and distributed by copper. 

Add in the global appetite for renewable energy, and this demand will only surge further for wind farms and solar energy systems.

Challenges driven by antibiotic resistance are pushing healthcare workers and agencies to minimize the risk of public infection. Copper is antimicrobial by nature, making it an ideal material for use in public areas.

Bloomberg Markets believes public health applications may see the demand for copper grow by as much as 1 million tons per year over the next 20 years.

Architects are turning to copper components to decrease the environmental impact of new buildings.

In North America, copper has been used to clad and adorn buildings to aid durability and sustainability.

Copper’s corrosion-resistance even helps these buildings withstand damage from extreme weather conditions.