The idea of a circular economy is that materials never become wasted and instead products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like recycling, remanufacturing and composting. The circular economy tackles climate change and other global challenges, like biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, by decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. Not only that, but economists argue that the circular economy offers benefits for businesses, providing a platform for sustainable growth in which resources are managed more efficiently and costs are kept to a minimum.
As an infinitely recyclable and very durable material, copper naturally plays an important role in building towards a circular economy. This is because once they reach the end of their life cycle, copper pipes can be recycled, melted down and turned into new copper products for further use in the circular economy. The same cannot be done with single use plastic pipes, such as PVC or PEX, which must instead be burnt. This releases toxic and potentially carcinogenic gases such as Carbon Monoxide and Benzene into the atmosphere. This emphasises the increased suitability of copper as a building material in plumbing systems over plastic alternatives.
Used widely in plumbing, construction, transportation, power generation and transmission, copper is a sustainable material that can be used a direct replacement for single-use materials across a range of industries and thus plays an integral role in the circular economy.
