International Copper Association Southeast Asia

Copper is a naturally occurring element. It is present in the earth's crust, in oceans, lakes and rivers; from minute trace elements to rich mine deposits. Far from being harmful, it is essential to life, and plants, fish and animals all need copper to function properly. Cattle and sheep farmers have to guard against copper deficiency in their livestock, and copper has been shown to be an outstanding growth promoter in pigs.

Copper in the World Around Us

Copper is naturally present in all water and aquatic environments, including sediments. It is also found in soil. In fact, if a soil contains insufficient levels of copper, it cannot sustain intensive arable farming. The world's two most important food crops, rice and wheat, will not thrive in copper-deficient soil. Lack of copper can result in losses in yield and lower-quality output.

This means that copper deficiency is a major issue in global food production. In Europe, 18 million hectares of cultivated soils (equivalent to 19% of arable land) are believed to be deficient in bio-available copper. To compensate for this, it is common practice to replenish the soils with copper-enriched fertilisers and copper sulphate treatments.

Copper is Durable and Recyclable

Like all the Earth's natural reserves, copper is a finite resource. Unlike many natural elements however, copper is virtually 100% recyclable, without any detrimental effect on its properties. According to recent world data, of the 24 million tonnes of copper used annually, 35% comes from recycled material.

Through copper recycling, we can stretch the world's reserves of copper into the distant future. It also brings with it enormous savings in energy since it cuts out the energy-intensive process of converting copper ore into the metal we know.

Talk to us, contact our Project Manager - Health & Environment, Dr. Jennifer Yang.