Manifesto for a competitive copper industry

Copper is a part of almost every aspect of our lives, from energy efficiency and healthcare to transportation systems and our overall health and lifestyles. That’s why it is important to understand the role that copper, as a raw material, will play in Europe’s future.

For years, the European Copper Institute (ECI) has evaluated copper’s role in issues central to the EU.  Over the past months, ECI and its members have engaged in dialogue with key stakeholders including MEPs, Commissioners and a variety of industries further down the value chain. In this publication, you can read about some of the work we’ve done in the European Parliament and with the marine aquaculture industry.

Largely as a result of this work, the European copper industry is today an innovative and sustainable industry. It is committed to working with the EU institutions on advancing the Principles Required to Balance EU Policy Objectives and Competitiveness. These principles involve:

• Keeping Europe globally competitive on energy and climate change policy
• Ensuring fair access to the raw materials required for copper production
• Expanding the use of life cycle methodologies in impact assessments
• Supporting innovation through R&D funding and public procurement
• Linking environmental legislation to core policies such as REACH and IPPC

However, despite these efforts, broader understanding is needed to help the institutions and downstream industry sectors understand copper’s benefits so they can make better decisions.

There’s no mistaking that copper is at the heart of EU policies that focus on sustainability and resource efficiency and that drive Europe’s competitive business environment. That’s why we’ve developed the European Copper Industry’s Manifesto. This contrasts the key benefits delivered through the use of copper-containing products and systems with the regulatory challenges that, right now, the copper industry is facing. It’s why we selected Competitiveness as this issue’s theme.

I hope you find this issue informative and also begin to realise that Copper is Essential for Everyone.

John Schonenberger
Chief Executive, European Copper Institute