Low-Carbon Copper Market Grapples with Definitions, Emissions, and Premiums

Copper demand is expected to increase as governments and companies seek to reduce emissions across industrial supply chains, particularly in electricity grids, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and data centers.

The International Copper Association has pledged to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050 and pursue reductions in Scope 3 emissions. Fastmarkets forecasts a global refined copper market deficit of around 150,000 tonnes in 2026 and over 300,000 tonnes in 2027.

Despite the growth of low-carbon copper products, there is no universally accepted definition of low-carbon copper, making it difficult to measure and compare emissions. Producers calculate emissions differently, using varying methodologies when reporting carbon footprints.