About: copper
Race for lithium illustrates EU drive for ‘strategic’ raw materials
The European Union is accelerating plans to develop lithium mining and refining capacity on its territory as part of a concerted EU push to develop a strategic value chain for manufacturing electric car batteries inside Europe.
EU’s Sefcovic: Real risk that ‘raw materials become the new oil’
Europeans have to be “very vigilant” that today’s dependency on imported oil and gas is not replaced by dependency on lithium, cobalt, copper and other raw materials that industries need for the green transition, Maroš Šefčovič told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Urban mining: In search of Europe’s valuable waste
Each year Europe wastes millions of tonnes of valuable metals by landfilling or exporting them. How can policy measures increase the recovery of these materials?
Closing Europe’s raw materials loop: The case for copper
There can be no wind or solar energy, no smart grids and no electric vehicles without copper, aluminium or steel, to name but a few. What Europe must do is enable advanced processing of materials in order to close the loop, writes Dr Katia Lacasse.
Metals: Friend or foe of the green economy?
The green economy usually brings to mind traditional renewable materials such as wood, biomass, water and earth. Less likely poster children are the big metals that have formed the backbone of the industrial revolution – steel, copper, iron, tin and aluminium.
Researcher: ‘The greatest bottlenecks can be expected for lithium and cobalt’
As excitement builds about the opportunities of the new green economy, concerns are growing as well. The economic transition will require new grid infrastructure, new distribution models and, perhaps most importantly, more raw materials, says Kornelis Blok.
Raw power
Vanadium, borate, bismuth, gallium – they may sound like planets from a science fiction movie, but in fact they are some of the most critical elements of the European Union’s economy.
Metals in the circular economy
Metals are essential components in the manufacturing of smart phones, electric car batteries and other green technologies. In this special report, EURACTIV looks at how the EU's circular economy strategy can help secure Europe's supply of critical raw materials in a sustainable way.
Europe needs more time to re-approve copper pesticide
Negotiations on the re-approval of copper compounds, which are due to be gradually phased out, are still ongoing. The European Commission is expected to present a new proposal to EU member states next month, at a meeting that was not originally scheduled.
EFSA re-confirms toxicity of organic pesticide, exposes PEST Committee boss
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released fresh data, which re-confirm the toxicity of copper compounds, pesticides that are used in organic farming.
PEST committee boss insists on toxic pesticide to protect organic winemakers
We should stop focusing on economy over health when it comes to pesticides, said MEP Eric Andrieu, the president of the PEST committee in the European Parliament. But in the case of toxic copper, he urged member states to keep in mind that the viability of organic winery is at stake and that alternatives to copper are very limited.OpinionPromoted content
Copper: A key facilitator of a low-carbon economy
This week, international leaders from business, government and civil society are meeting in New York to discuss how to keep the momentum going, particularly considering Washington's withdrawal from the agreement, writes Fleming Voetmann.
Malawi discovers new mineral deposits, eyes investors
Impoverished Malawi announced yesterday (20 August) that new mineral deposits had been discovered in a $30-million geophysical survey sponsored by the World Bank and the European Union.![[Shutterstock]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/11/flat_screen_tv.jpeg)
Parliament must bar toxic cadmium from Europe
TVs containing cadmium are no longer available in Europe since a ban was decided under the 2002 Directive on Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment. But cadmium could return via the back door following intense lobbying efforts by some manufacturers, writes Michael Edelman.
Kroes slams broadband ‘regulatory mess’
European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes has slammed the “regulatory mess” affecting broadband in a warm up to forthcoming proposals to shake up the sector, which will form part of the new Single Market for Telecommunications.