Metals

SUSTAINABILITY / MANUFACTURING

Metals

Recycled or low-emissions conductors and screens

OVERVIEW

Market maturity

For electrical cables used in buildings or the utility sector, the metal conductors and screening traditionally have accounted for the predominant part of a cable's carbon-footprint.

However, thanks to an increased marked availability and affordability of clean energy combined with more recycling of metal waste - cable manufacturers are finding it economically feasible to transition towards using recycled or low-emissions metals for cable conductors and screening.

The market for sustainable alternatives has reached a level of maturity, coinciding with an increased customer demand for environmentally friendly cable solutions.

 

IMPLEMENTATION OF

Recycled or low-emissions metals

In 2021, two factories in North Europe sourced, tested, produced and delivered cables using recycled or low-emissions metals for pilot project.

From 2022 onwards, the experiences learned have been industrialized and rolled out to other factories across the region.

This entails signing of purchase agreements between factories and raw material suppliers - in the midst of changing market conditions due to currency and interest rate fluctuations, war in Ukraine etc. 

SWEDEN

36% recycled copper conductor

Prysmian Sweden has introduced ACEFLEX Eco Cable Pure 0,6/1 kV an installation cable that is produced with 36% recycled copper conductor from a recognized supplier.

This reduces the cable's CO2 footprint and qualifies it for Prysmian Group's environmental Eco Cable concept - a marking reserved for products with a lower environment impact compared to our standard cable range.

The product is accompanied by both a Eco Cable datasheet as well as EPD documentation.

 

NETHERLANDS

100% recycled copper conductor

Prysmian Netherlands has introduced their own environmental brand called E-Line that presently include:

  • VD 750 V Eca installation wire with 100% recycled copper conductor and PVC insulation of plasticized bio-based compound - contributing to a -32% CO2 reduction compared with the standard version.
     
  • PROFIT wire in tube using VD E-Line - contributing to a -21% CO2  reduction.