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The report assesses the environmental footprint of Chinese copper cathode production, which relies heavily on imports. Using a 'cradle-to-gate' LCA, it finds that mining and mineral extraction are the primary drivers of environmental impact, accounting for over 70% of the total for primary production. While Chinese primary production has lower impacts than the global average and regions like Latin America and Indonesia, it remains higher than European production due to lower ore grades and a fossil-fuel-heavy electricity mix. The study recommends improving mining technologies, enhancing the collection and recycling of secondary copper, and phasing out obsolete smelting technologies.