Sustainable Development and the Global Copper Supply Chain: International research team report

The report examines the global copper supply chain, focusing on China's role as the world's largest consumer. It analyzes two primary flows: recycled copper scrap (Flow C) and primary copper mining products (Flow D). The document identifies sustainability challenges, including the illegal import of e-waste into China and weak regulatory enforcement in mining regions like Zambia. It evaluates the impact of international policies, such as the EU's WEEE and ELV Directives, and provides recommendations for improving data quality, formalizing recycling infrastructure, and strengthening government capacity in developing nations.

• China is the world's largest consumer of copper and the largest importer of both copper mining products and recycled copper, importing approximately 5.6 million tonnes of recycled copper, which represents 68 per cent of global recycled copper imports.
• The global copper supply chain is divided into two main flows for China: Flow C, a closed-loop process involving the import of copper scrap for secondary production, and Flow D, which involves the import of primary copper mining products starting from ore extraction.
• Despite national bans on e-waste imports, China faces a significant challenge with illegal imports of electronic waste, with estimates of illegal imports ranging from 1.5 million tonnes per annum to as high as 35 million tonnes annually.
• Informal e-waste recycling in China provides significant employment, creating up to 440,000 local jobs in centers like Luquiao and Guiyu, but causes severe health issues, including elevated lead and cadmium levels in workers and children.
• In primary copper production (Flow D), there is a notable discrepancy in the capacity of the Zambian government to enforce regulations compared to Australia and Chile, which may prevent local communities from receiving appropriate returns from non-renewable resources.
• Regulatory drivers for secondary copper recycling in Europe, the US, and Japan are primarily designed to minimize human and environmental harm rather than to maximize the recovery of materials.
• The European Union's WEEE and ELV Directives are among the strongest regulatory drivers for copper recycling, while green building initiatives are the most influential voluntary drivers.
• Copper provides significant environmental benefits in its use phase, particularly in electrical applications where it improves energy efficiency and enables renewable technologies; for example, increasing copper content in electric motors could avoid 63 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
• The report recommends that China should monitor the trade of e-waste more forcefully rather than forcing it underground, while strictly enforcing safe handling standards.
• To improve sustainable development in the mining sector, the international community should focus on strengthening the capacity of national governments, particularly in Africa, to design and enforce regulations.

APA

Streicher-Porte, M., & Althaus, H. J. (2011). Sustainable Development and the Global Copper Supply Chain: International research team report. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/sus_dev_chinese_copper.pdf

Chicago

Streicher-Porte, Martin, and Hans Jörg Althaus. Sustainable Development and the Global Copper Supply Chain: International research team report. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2011. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/sus_dev_chinese_copper.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Streicher-Porte |first1=Martin |last2=Althaus |first2=Hans Jörg |title=Sustainable Development and the Global Copper Supply Chain: International research team report |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2011 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/sus_dev_chinese_copper.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{streicherporte2011sustainable, author = {Streicher-Porte, Martin and Althaus, Hans Jörg}, title = {{Sustainable Development and the Global Copper Supply Chain: International research team report}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2011}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/sus_dev_chinese_copper.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }