Strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of copper: New technologies, more recycling or demand management?

摘要: Existing approaches to reducing environmental impacts along the metal production and consumption chain are focused largely at plant scale for primary production, rather than considering whole cycle. As such, many opportunities systemic improvements overlooked. This paper develops an approach designing preferred futures entire cycles that deliver reduced carbon footprints. Dynamic material flow models in Visual Basic® used provide life-cycle-impact-assessment indicators, which help identify key intervention points analysis also identifies actors or agents value responsible for, can influence, behaviour affects performance. With this information, it is possible evaluate different scenarios transition paths achieve impact. These consider combinations of new technology, increased recycling demand management strategies. A case study copper cycle USA shows meet a CO2 reduction target 60% by 2050, innovative technologies processing mined ore will play limited role, due their increasing future associated with mining ever lower grades. To compensate whilst meeting projections, old scrap would be required increase from 18% 80%, requiring extensive collaboration between secondary producers. An alternate scenario focuses on 1% per year, meets only rate 36%. Together, these suggest there merit examining ‘metal-in-use’ stage more closely order targeted reductions CO2. The highlights inherent trade-offs aspects performance when pursuing targets.