Statement on the sector decarbonization approach of the Copper Mark

Copper is a key metal for the global energy transition and essential for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and electricity transmission infrastructure. With demand expected to rise significantly, the copper sector faces the dual challenge of increasing production while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to align with the 1.5°C climate target.

To address this, the Copper Mark and the Rocky Mountain Institute, in collaboration with industry and non-industry stakeholders, have developed the Sectoral Decarbonisation Approach (SDA) to GHG target setting for copper companies.

As a strong supporter of The Copper Mark, we welcome this development.

At the same time, we note that the recently published SDA does not yet capture all perspectives and is based on data and assumptions that come with certain limitations. It is therefore important for users to take these aspects into account when considering its application.

Aurubis is technologically advanced in terms of metal yield and the associated energy and metal cycles, which optimally leverage synergies between primary and secondary processes, and thus serves as a prime example. Therefore, Aurubis has consistently shared its perspectives on the Copper Mark SDA throughout the development process and public consultation.

In our view, further refinement is needed to ensure that it fully reflects the realities of copper production and the current availability of robust data.

The following concerns mean that the SDA cannot apply to Aurubis:

• Misaligned metrics reduce credibility: The SDA does not allow emissions to be assigned to co-products or by-products, while customer reporting and regulatory/LME reporting require this allocation in keeping with LCA guidelines. This inconsistency makes the metrics less trustworthy.
• Poor incentives and misleading decarbonization signals: Not recognizing co-products punishes operators who invest in processes that recover multiple metals with copper as a carrier. This discourages the efficient use of resources, undermines circularity, and gives the wrong impression about what truly counts as low-carbon production.
• Production paths that ignore reality: Dividing production into “100% primary” and “100% recycled” does not match International Copper Association (ICA) data and ignores real differences in raw materials, scrap quality, impurities, and processing methods.
• Secondary production is inaccurately described: The SDA oversimplifies secondary copper production, which involves high-temperature fuel use, reducing agents, and the carbon content found in complex scrap streams.
• Benchmarking: Even though SDA trajectories are called “illustrative,” customers, investors, and other stakeholders will likely treat them as actual benchmarks although they are neither realistic nor feasible.

Aurubis sees the need for practical, science‑based target pathways for the copper sector and welcomes the opportunity to continuously work together on further improving the SDA in order to bring in the perspective of a sustainability leader of the copper value chain.

As part of The Copper Mark initiative, we continuously promote responsibility along the entire value chain as we always have. The requirements of the Copper Mark standard define responsible and sustainable business practices in value chains for non-ferrous metals, with the exception of precious metals.

Aurubis has integrated these requirements into the management of its sites and has compliance regularly audited by an independent body. These audits enable us to obtain suggestions for further improvement, which we pursue with concrete action plans. All our production sites are certified as compliant or are on the pathway to certification.