London, 18 June 2003: The European Copper Institute has announced today that almost 45%* of all the copper used in Europe is from recycled sources. At a time when waste management has become a high priority within the European Union, copper is increasingly emerging as the recycling champion.

Copper is 100% recyclable with no loss of its properties or performance, recycled copper is easily reintegrated in the production cycle, with no restrictions on its use. Recycled copper is used in the manufacture of a wide range of products, from electrical cables to plumbing tube and fittings, but also in high technology applications in ICT, telecommunications and transport.

The President of the Non-Ferrous Division of the Bureau of International Recycling, Marc Natan said: "The positive effects of copper on the environment are not limited to the preservation of raw materials and waste reduction. The production of recycled copper saves 85% of the energy used in the primary production of copper, thereby reducing the emission of greenhouse gases".

"Electrical and electronic equipment, which are major producers of ever-growing quantities of waste, contain up to 8% copper. Increasing the volume of copper in these electrical and electronic applications would not only boost their recycling potential, but also improve their performance. This is a direct result of the remarkable conductivity of copper."

Based on public data from the European Commission and the European Copper Institute it is estimated that by improving the performance of electrical equipment, copper could contribute to a reduction in European CO₂ emissions in the order of 20 million tonnes each year, equivalent to 7.5% of the Kyoto target for Europe.

The durability and strength of copper products also limit the volume of waste. It has been estimated that 80% of all the copper ever extracted is still in use today.