TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
LOW-CARBON COPPER PRODUCTS
REDUCED FOOTPRINT FOR THE INDUSTRY
Elcowire proudly offers Low-carbon Copper products significantly reducing CO2 emissions.
Low-carbon Copper products will play an important role in the sustainability transition to achieve the goal of net-zero CO 2 emissions.
HOW IT WILL BE ACHIEVED
As one of Europe’s leading suppliers of copper wire rod and copper rod based products and services, Elcowire’s solutions are an essential component in the energy, transports, and infrastructure industries.
We have a commitment to continuous innovation and improvement of our processes, which paves the way for sustainability. Our technologies are vital for the ongoing electrification of our society, including
renewable energy solutions as well as sustainable transportation and communications networks. Our capability in Low-carbon Copper knowledge helps us enable greener ways to meet tomorrow’s electricity needs.
With products that set a new industry standard for a Low-carbon Copper footprint, we help customers build a more efficient energy infrastructure and make the shift toward e-mobility.
ACCELERATE YOUR LOW-CARBON FOOTPRINT
The reduced CO 2 emissions of our Low-carbon Copper products have been validated
and will help our customers to achieve their emission reduction targets faster and more efficiently.
Elcowire is committed to supporting our planet’s shift to more sustainable energy sources and raw materials. We focus on developing solutions that enable electrification of transports, expands solar and wind power sources, and supports the widespread growth of a modern sustainable infrastructure.
Elcowire is committed to United Nations Sustainable Development, Goal 13: Climate Action as it is essential for addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, promoting sustainable development, protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, advancing social equity, and safeguarding the health and prosperity of current and future generations.
RECYCLING FOR CIRCULARITY. By using recycled raw material in Elcowire’s Low-carbon Copper products, resources and energy can be saved and environmental impact reduced. The input material is available all around us. Todays’ urban mines include your old mobile phone, electronic waste, used cars etc, all of which contribute to a recycling process that closes the loop.
Our Low carbon-Copper products: A sustainable circular solution.
EMBRACING OUR PROMISES
We are commited to accountability and integrity. It underscores the importance of fulfilling our obligations and pledges, fostering trust and growth within our organization. By embracing our promises, we strengthen professional relationships, build a culture of reliability, and contribute to the success of our customers, employees and stakeholders. It's our corporate nature that encourages trust and emphasizes the positive impact of keeping our word in the business world.
VISION
Together with all our stakeholders, our employees, our customers, our suppliers, our owner and our partners, Elcowire wants to contribute to a sustainable society which is based on our history, know-how and passion.
MISSION
One of the leading suppliers in Europe of products and services based on wire rod for the electrical and infrastructure industry with copper and aluminium solutions. By challenging ourselves and continuously improving our processes, we provide solutions for a sustainable world.
VALUES
RESPONSIBILITY. We build on and nurture long-term relationships and we act responsibly towards customers, co-workers, partners, our owner and society.
RESPECT. We listen to and show consideration for one another. We recognize each other’s differences.
TRUST. We are committed and dedicated to fulfilling our promises. We act in a trustworthy and reliable manner.
PASSION. Our customers’ success is our passion. It is our priority to meet the needs and challenges of our customers.
LOW-CARBON COPPER ROD
In an era where environmental awareness is paramount, recycled copper stands out as a shining example of sustainable practices. At the same time, to meet ever-growing future market needs, recycled copper will not be available in large enough quantities, and primary copper will still remain crucial. However, it is extremely important that primary copper choice still has a low carbon footprint.
Elcowire has the complete offering: Low-carbon Copper products from recycled as well as from primary copper, or from standard Copper rod if this is what the customer prefers.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Elcowire provides customers with the option of Low-carbon Copper products resulting in a copper wire rod with a minimal impact on the environment and climate. The choice of primary and recycled copper significantly reduces the need for extracting primary copper from mines, leading to a substantial decrea -
se in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
RECYCLED COPPER
One of the remarkable aspects of recycled copper is its energy efficiency. The recycling process consumes far less energy than the production of primary copper. As a result, the use of recycled copper not only conserves valuable resources but also helps lower carbon footprints, making it an outstanding environmentally responsible choice.
The only limitation is that there is not enough copper material to recycle to meet all tomorrow’s needs. Hence the need also for low-carbon primary copper!
PRIMARY COPPER
We source our primary copper cathodes carefully and select suppliers based on their use of renewable energy sources, sustainable transports and cutting edge technology for energy effective smelting.
In our own production we are dedicated to a streamlined and sustainable production method with optimal quality and deliveries on time.
COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
Low-carbon Copper – whether it is made from recycled or from primary copper – is more than just a metal; it represents a commitment to sustainability and to responsible resource management. By embracing both recycled and primary copper in our manufacturing processes, Elcowire not only contributes to environmental preservation but also promotes a thriving and resilient global economy. It’s time to recognize the value of Low-carbon Copper products, and to champion its role in shaping a sustainable and greener tomorrow. The use of Low-carbon Copper products in various industries is a great way of accelerating sustainability goals across the value chain!
Elcowire Copper products benchmarked against global average and aluminium regarding CO2 emissions (kg CO2/kg copper)
3.6 kg CO2 /kg Copper
max 3.5 kg CO2 /kg Copper
max 1.7 kg CO2 /kg Copper
max 1.7 kg CO2 /kg Copper
16.7 kg CO2 /kg Aluminium
Copper Rod global average (a)
Elcowire Standard Copper Rod (b)
Elcowire Lowcarbon Copper Rod (b)
a) ICA International Copper Association
b) Elcowire LCA calculations
c) ASI Aluminium Stewardship Initiative
Elcowire Recycled Copper Rod (b)
Aluminium Rod global average (c)
Low-carbon Copper footprint is max 1.7 kg CO2 per kg copper rod
OUR APPROACH
About Low-carbon Copper
VALIDATED PROCESS
The reduced CO 2 emissIons from Low-carbon Copper have been confirmed through various validation processes. The reporting protocol that was used for verification is the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) – Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard. The products were also validated and reviewed against the general principles in ISO 14064-3 Standard (Greenhouse Gases – Part 3: Specification with Guidance for the Validation and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Assertions)
SCOPE 1, 2 & 3
The production of copper from cradle-to-Elcowire gate includes mining and milling, transportation, smelting and refining. GHG emissions from mining and milling include all three scopes. Smelting and refining include scope 1 and 2, while transportation and auxiliary bulk goods & chemicals used in the process of producing metals belong to scope 3.
Downstream
MASS BALANCE CALCULATIONS
Elcowire uses Mass Balance calculations where output always must equal input, allowing us to manufacture products and enhance circularity without making complex and costly changes to our production infrastructure. With this approach, copper with lower CO 2 emissions and 100 percent recycled content is mixed with standard copper during production, making it challenging to trace the output material directly to its source. However, by monitoring the quantities of each input material and the resulting product
output, we calculate the amount of each input material present in the final product.
A full segregation of sustainable materials is not feasible in the current process industry setup. It would require setting up a duplicate production line, using more resources and energy, which is the opposite of what Elcowire wants to achieve.
Mass balance as shown in the furnace illustration below is a chain of custody approach that allows tracking the net amount of sustainable materials – in this illustration recycled copper and low-carbon primary copper – as
they move through a system and ensures an appropriate allocation of these materials to the finished goods based on auditable bookkeeping where input must equal output. Industries such as energy, chemistry,paper & pulp, food, and textiles are implementing similar mass balance approaches.
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
The carbon footprint in Elcowire’s Product Self-Declarations is verified by third-party, IVL (Swedish Environmental Research Institute) through a mass balance-based self-declaration according to ISO 14021.
This is a standardized document for displaying the environmental impacts of the company’s copper products across its entire lifecycle. These Environmental Self-Declarations provide a base for accurate environmental and climate calculations. With the use of Low-carbon Copper products, Elcowire becomes an invaluable partner for the customers’ achievement of their sustainability goals.
Our Self-declarations can be downloaded from our website, elcowire.com
FRONT RUNNERS
Elcowire meets the soaring demand for Low-carbon Copper solutions together with best-in-class clients and customers. During 2023–2024 Elcowire both finalized and started deliveries to projects that involve some of the marketleaders in the energy transition. We are of course very proud of these projects and there are several more to come in 2025.
2023
NKT:
”Reduced footprint with more than 23 000 tons of CO 2 ”
SIEMENS ENERGY/ASTA:
”The market calls for circularity, such as in recycled copper”
DONCASTER CABLES:
”Significant way towards society’s goal of zero emissions by 2050”
During 2023 Elcowire finalized deliveries of Low-carbon Copper to NKT for the world’s largest windfarm: Dogger Bank C. Deliveries to this offshore wind farm park reduced the footprint with more than 23 000 tons of CO2
Soaring demand for recycled copper became very obvious during 2023 together with a very clear vision for circularity. The cooperation between Siemens Energy/ Asta and Elcowire is based on the philosophy: ”Partnership of the best in class pioneering sustainability”.
The reduced CO2 emissions, in the Low-carbon Copper from Elcowire, is used for the entire charging cable EV Ultra®, and will help to electrify Britain.
SPECIALS
We are one of the leading suppliers in Europe, developing products based on wire rod for the electrical and infrastructure industry with copper and aluminum solutions. Operations are located in Sweden and Germany. Elcowire consists of five business units: Rod, Wire & Strands, High Voltage, Rail and Specials. We employ 400 people and our headquarter is located in Helsingborg, Sweden. Elcowire is part of Liljedahl Group.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Elcowire Group AB
Box 914, SE-251 09 Helsingborg, Sweden
Phone: +46 (0)42 195300 elcowire.com
RAIL
ROD
WIRE & STRANDS