Recycled copper plays an essential role in industry today, at a time when companies are seeking to reduce their environmental impact while securing their supplies. Endlessly recyclable with no loss of performance, it represents a sustainable alternative to primary copper extracted from mines. Its use makes it possible to significantly reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, two major challenges for achieving ecological transition objectives.
Thanks to a perfectly controlled collection, sorting and treatment process, recycled copper retains the same mechanical and electrical properties as virgin copper. This makes it a reliable solution for the energy, transport, electrical equipment and electronics sectors. Against a backdrop of growing global demand, it also contributes to strengthening the circular economy and limiting the exploitation of natural resources.
What is recycled copper?
Recycled copper is a material obtained from copper scrap that is collected and then reprocessed (sorted, prepared, smelted, refined). Its distinctive feature is that it is 100% recyclable ad infinitum, with no loss of conductivity or performance.
It offers the same qualities as primary mined copper, but with a much lower environmental impact: producing recycled copper requires up to 85% less energy and greatly reduces CO₂ emissions.
Today, it's a strategic resource for industry, helping to limit mining while meeting the growing needs of the electrical, industrial and energy sectors.
Definition and properties of recycled copper
Recycled copper comes from scrap metal that is collected and reprocessed to a level of purity equivalent to that of primary copper. It retains all its properties: high conductivity, malleability, corrosion resistance and durability. These characteristics make it a perfectly reusable material in the industrial, electrical and energy sectors.
Differences between primary and recycled copper
The main difference is not the identical quality in both cases, but the environmental and energy impact. Recycled copper requires far less energy to produce than mined copper, and generates far fewer CO₂ emissions. In technical terms, performance remains the same, enabling it to be used in demanding applications.
An infinitely recyclable material
Copper is one of the few metals that can be 100% recycled, with no loss of performance, even after numerous processing cycles. This makes it a key material for reducing waste, limiting mining and supporting more sustainable industrial models.
How does the copper recycling process work?
Collecting and sorting copper waste
The process begins with the collection of copper-containing waste: cables, electrical equipment, industrial components, used parts or production offcuts. These materials are then sorted by purity and composition to separate copper from other metals or impurities.
Preparation: grinding, separation, granulation
After sorting, the copper is crushed and reduced to fragments. Mechanical and magnetic separation systems distinguish the metal from non-conductive materials. Granulation further refines the material to obtain copper ready for smelting.
Smelting, refining and converting
The prepared metal is then melted in specialized furnaces and refined to a purity comparable to that of primary copper. Once purified, it can be transformed into bars, tubes, wires or shaped parts for new industrial applications.
Recycling copper alloys
Copper-based alloys (bronze, brass...) can also be recycled, but require more precise sorting to preserve their mechanical and chemical properties. Recycling them also helps reduce the use of virgin raw materials.
What are the advantages of recycled copper?
Save energy and reduce your carbon footprint
Recycling copper saves up to 85% energy compared to producing primary copper from mining. This significant drop translates into a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions, making recycled copper a key material for limiting the industry's environmental impact.
Preserving natural resources
By reusing copper from scrap metal, we limit the need to extract ores, which is costly, energy-intensive and destructive to ecosystems. In this way, recycled copper helps preserve natural resources while meeting growing market demand.
Durability and infinite reusability
Copper is 100% recyclable with no loss of quality, even after several processing cycles. Its durability and stability make it an ideal material for sectors requiring constant performance: energy, power grids, electronics, industry, transport, etc.
Lower manufacturing costs
Recycling also has an economic advantage: recycled material costs less to produce and process than primary copper. This enables industries to benefit from a high-performance material with stable quality, while keeping production costs under control.
How does recycled copper contribute to the circular economy?
Reducing dependence on raw materials
By reintegrating recycled copper into the production chain, manufacturers reduce their dependence on mined ores. This approach limits mining and secures copper supplies in a context of growing demand, particularly in the energy and electrical sectors.
Recovering and reusing scrap metal
Recycled copper transforms waste into useful resources. Thanks to sorting, treatment and refining, metal residues from construction, industry and electronics become reusable materials. This recycling approach reduces the volume of waste and improves the efficiency of industrial processes.
Copper's role in sustainable supply chains
By encouraging the reuse of materials, recycled copper helps to stabilize supply chains and reduce their carbon footprint. Companies are integrating more recycled materials to meet their CSR objectives and build more sustainable models. Copper is thus establishing itself as a pillar of the modern circular economy.
What are the challenges facing copper recycling in France?
French industry lagging behind
France has considerable potential for copper recycling, but the sector remains less developed than in other European countries. Collection and sorting infrastructures vary from region to region, which limits the amount of copper actually recovered and recycled.
Strategic investments needed
To meet the growing demand linked to the energy transition, investments are needed in sorting technologies, refining capacities and processing centers. Strengthening the industry would increase recycled volumes, reduce dependence on imports and improve national competitiveness.
Complexity of alloy recycling
The recycling of pure copper is well mastered, but that of alloys (such as brass or bronze) remains more complex. Each alloy requires precise sorting and appropriate treatment to preserve its properties. This technical difficulty is still holding back the overall optimization of the recycling process.
What is the current production capacity for recycled copper?
Worldwide volumes
Worldwide, recycled copper accounts for around 30-35% of total copper production. This volume is increasing every year due to growing demand from the electrical, electronics and energy sectors. The most advanced countries are those with highly structured collection and processing systems.
Key data for France
In France, recycling capacity is increasing, but remains lower than in several European countries. Some of the waste collected is still exported, due to a lack of infrastructure. The development of new processing capacities would enable us to increase the proportion of recycled copper used in French industry.
Global demand trends
Global demand for copper - both primary and recycled - is rising sharply, driven in particular by the energy transition, electrical infrastructure and digital technologies. This trend is driving industries to integrate more recycled copper to secure their supply and reduce their carbon footprint.
How does recycled copper reduce CO₂ emissions?
Energy impact of recycling
Recycling copper consumes much less energy than extracting and processing primary copper. This reduction can be as much as 85%, which explains the significantly lower environmental impact of recycled copper. By limiting the use of intensive mining processes, industries automatically reduce their overall energy consumption.
Carbon gain compared to mining
Copper extraction requires the opening of mines, the mobilization of heavy machinery, the transportation of ore and complex purification stages. All these operations generate a significant amount of CO₂ emissions. Recycling, on the other hand, relies on shorter, more sober processes, which considerably reduce the carbon footprint of the final material.
Contributing to industrial carbon neutrality
By reducing both energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, recycled copper is fully in line with the carbon neutrality targets set by companies and environmental policies. Its integration into production chains helps to sustainably reduce the carbon impact of the industrial, energy and electricity sectors.
Recycled copper at Gindre: a committed approach
A controlled supply chain
Gindre relies on a reliable and structured supply chain, integrating a significant proportion of recycled copper in its production. Thanks to partners specializing in the recovery, sorting and processing of scrap metal, the company guarantees a high-quality raw material that meets the technical requirements of industrial applications.
Concrete industrial applications
Gindre uses recycled copper in numerous solutions for the energy, transport, electrical engineering and electric mobility sectors. Copper rods, shaped components, customized parts: products incorporating recycled copper retain the same mechanical and electrical performance as those made from primary copper.
Environmental and CSR commitments
Gindre's approach is part of a global strategy to reduce its environmental footprint. The use of recycled copper limits CO₂ emissions, reduces energy consumption and contributes to the circular economy. This CSR commitment reflects the company's desire to support its customers towards more sustainable and responsible industrial solutions.
