Copper:
The Continuous
Cycle
Welcome to #ContinuousCopper
Copper's unique ability to be used, recovered, and reused - without compromising performance - makes it integral to modern life. As global demand grows for clean energy, digital infrastructure, and electrified mobility, copper remains central to progress: reliable, recoverable, and ready for what's next.
Copper is more than just critical.
It's Continuous.
Our previous #CopperIsCritical Campaign made the case for including copper on the 2025 USGS Critical Minerals List, highlighting that while demand is rising, the U.S. has the copper resources to meet it - if we act strategically.
That strategy includes:
- Increased domestic production and refining
- Expanding recovery and recycling infrastructure
- Maintaining strong trade relationships with trusted international partners
Now, #ContinuousCopper takes the next step - shifting the conversation from availability to circularity.
This campaign focuses on how copper's proven recyclability and long product life help build a more sustainable and secure material system - supporting climate goals, clean industry, and long-term supply security.
The Power of the Continuous Cycle
Copper never wears out.
Its intrinsic properties, like high electrical and thermal conductivity, formability, and corrosion resistance, enable improved sustainable performance at every stage of the supply chain, across multiple lifetimes of use.
Copper's cycle
Start
Use
End
Again
At every stage of this cycle, copper plays a pivotal role in enabling:
- Clean energy systems
- Electrified transportation and EV infrastructure
- Resilient, high-performance data centers
- Durable, reliable components for industrial and consumer technologies
With responsible production, performance enhancing fabrication, thoughtful product design, and advanced recovery methods, copper meets tomorrow's needs without exhausting today's resources.
What the Campaign Covers
#ContinuousCopper will follow copper's continuous full life cycle across four key phases.
Start
How copper is responsibly produced and processed, including mining, semi-fabrication, secondary production, and data transparency
Use
Real-world applications that improve quality of life and enable sustainable development
End
End Recovery through end-of-life collection and sorting that enable responsible reuse
Again
Investment in secondary production that returns copper to use and supply chain transparency that builds trust
Why It Matters
Copper is essential - not only because of its intrinsic properties, but because of what it makes possible. By choosing copper we support:
- Long-lasting, high-performance applications
- Recovery systems that minimize waste and extend material value
- Supply chain transparency rooted in shared sustainability standards
- A circular, low-carbon economy that benefits people and our planet
Copper is a material we can count on today – and a solution we’ll need tomorrow.
Explore. Learn. Join the Movement.
This campaign is your guide to copper's continuous role in a sustainable future. Whether you're a policymaker, manufacturer, engineer, or advocate - #ContinuousCopper is for you.
- Watch short videos on copper’s journey and recovery
- Hear from CDA members on what sustainability means in practice
- Read insightful thought leadership articles on copper in infrastructure, energy and industry
- Join the conversation on social: #ContinuousCopper
Together, Let’s Keep Copper Moving
