In this article, to understand where CO2 emissions occur in the value chain of copper used in the manufacture of transformers, and how copper is sourced differently, we explore Japanese electronics giant Hitachi and its suppliers. We will explain the project carried out by the three companies in cooperation with the E-Liability Institute. It can affect the amount of emissions produced. A key finding of this project is that if the recycling process itself is emissions-intensive and the mining process is low-carbon, recycled copper can generate significantly more CO2 emissions than copper mining. That’s what it means. This highlights the value of applying a systematic and robust approach to measuring carbon emissions, such as the E-Liability methodology used in the project.
Companies are increasingly facing pressure from external and internal stakeholders to decarbonize their operations and reduce their impact on climate change. However, in the absence of a rigorous global system for carbon accounting, such pressures have no real impact, as companies are sometimes incentivized to “go green,” “net zero,” or adopt a “circular economy.” It can feel more like rhetoric. These terms do not have well-established definitions, so they can serve as a veil for stakeholders to advance ideological agendas unrelated to decarbonization, or for companies themselves to engage in greenwashing. There is a gender.
