Staying ahead of the technology curve means strengthening your competitive advantage. That is why we give you data-driven innovation insights into the manufacturing sector. This time, you get to discover 5 hand-picked sustainable copper manufacturing solutions.
Global Startup Heat Map highlights 5 Top Sustainable Copper Manufacturing Solutions out of 101
The insights of this data-driven analysis are derived from the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 1.379.000+ startups & scaleups globally. The platform gives you an exhaustive overview of emerging technologies & relevant startups within a specific field in just a few clicks.
The Global Startup Heat Map below reveals the distribution of the 101 exemplary startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research. Further, it highlights 5 sustainable copper manufacturing solutions that we hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised, and more. You get to explore the solutions of these 5 startups & scaleups in this report. For insights on the other 96 sustainable copper manufacturing solutions, get in touch.
EnviroCopper develops Invisible Mines
Conventional open-cut and underground mining is unsustainable and causes harm to the environment. However, In-Situ Recovery (ISR) has a lower visual and lower the environmental impact of mineral extraction and does not require blasting and movement of waste rock. This reduces noise, dust, and requires no tailings dams ensuring sustainability in copper mining, extraction, and processing.
Australian startup EnviroCopper develops invisible mines by leveraging in-situ recovery (ISR) for copper and gold mining. The startup dissolves the commodity in place and then extracts them using a system of injection and extraction bores or wells. ISR lowers the environmental impact of mineral extraction in comparison to open-cut and underground mining.
Mantos Copper employs a Zero-Harm Initiative for Mining Operations
Traditional mining operations for copper and other mineral deposits involve a number of occupational hazards including accidents, toxic gases, and airborne particulates. Ensuring the safety of workers in mines is an essential effort in mining. Further, a positive environmental impact in combination with improved occupational health drives sustainability in mining operations. As a result, startups develop best practices based on industry standards to improve sustainability and reduce occupational hazards in copper mines.
Chilean startup Mantos Copper employs its Zero-Harm initiative to improve occupational health and safety for mine extraction and sales. The startup’s sustainability policies comply with the certification of the International Quality Standard (ISO:9001) by integrating safety, occupational health, environmental management, and quality policy. These are later applied by all verticals and horizontals at Mantos Copper.
Creative IC3D creates Single-Layer Traces for Printed Electronics
Copper is an essential element in many electronic products especially printed circuit boards (PCBs). Additive manufacturing technologies make low-volume production of parts cost-effective. By combining the advantages of 3D printing and novel copper inks, cost-effective production of copper-based single layer traces that PCBs use becomes possible. As a result, startups develop additive manufacturing solutions to produce copper-based printed electronics.
Israeli startup Creative IC3D develops technologies that enable the creation of copper-based single-layer traces that printed electronics require. The startup’s semi-additive printing process enables rapid manufacturing of single-layer traces, in a considerably shorter time, from the design phase to end-product manufacturing. Moreover, Creative IC3D leverages inkjet printing for design templates and then a chemical process to rapidly manufacture homogenous copper traces. The end-products are cost-effective, lightweight, and customizable and find applications in the Internet of Things (IoT) devices and printed circuit boards, as well as in the automotive and retail sectors.
Dore Copper Mining focuses on Sustainable Tailings Management
One of the integral parts of any mining operation is the effective disposal of waste material. Effective tailings management in copper mining is key as this can cause irrevocable damage to surrounding ecosystems. Best practices for effective tailings management include dewatering, tailings disposal in thin layers to facilitate consolidation and drying, and good surface water management. Further, under-drainage and seepage management are also important in order to stabilize tailings. As a result, startups develop holistic tailings management solutions to improve sustainability in copper mining, extraction, and processing.
Canadian startup Dore Copper Mining focuses on sustainable tailings management of all their mining activities. The startup sends tailings water samples on a weekly basis to accredited laboratories for testing. Further, this analysis also reaches Environment Canada and the Quebec Ministry of the Environment. The four main parameters in the analysis are dissolved iron and copper, total suspended solids, and pH. The iron, copper, and suspended solids are found to be within their applicable limits whereas the pH has only one monthly deviation from the norm.
Ero Copper implements Co-Disposal Methods to Improve Sustainability
Climate change and environmental degradation is causing many countries to increase their sustainability efforts, especially in the mining industry. Natural resource depletion is inevitable as many essential metals including copper, zinc, iron, and gold are continuously in demand. Mining companies consider both the social impact and environmental impact of mining and adapt their operations to industry regulations. As a result, startups leverage the use of renewable energy to power their mining operations to aid in sustainability efforts.
Canadian startup Ero Copper leverages sustainable methods for reducing freshwater consumption and uses renewable energy to power its operations. The startup’s recycling efforts include co-disposal of its tailings that enables the revegetation of its legacy tailings dam. This process also reduces its reliance on freshwater consumption. Additionally, the startup uses 100% hydroelectric, wind, and solar energy to power its mining and milling operations.
Discover more Sustainable Manufacturing startups
The 101 sustainable copper manufacturing solutions, such as the examples highlighted in this report, focus on waste stream management, reuse of copper, and mine worker safety as well as sustainable mining operation productivity. While all of these technologies play a major role in advancing sustainability, they only represent the tip of the iceberg. To explore more sustainable manufacturing technologies, simply get in touch to let us look into your areas of interest. For a more general overview, you can download our free Manufacturing Innovation Report to save your time and improve strategic decision-making.
