Innovation and Environmental Stewardship

Copper is vital to powering a green-energy future.

This metal is essential not only for electric vehicles, wind energy, and solar power but also for the infrastructure that will support renewable energy and deliver it to our cars, homes, and businesses.

Copper Mountain believes in a green future, which is why we are committed to the safe, responsible mining of copper to help transition to a better world fueled by sustainable energy. We produce the metals that drive a green economy and deliver that value in a responsible way.  Our commitments are reflected in our Environmental Policy.

Committed to Net Zero

A top priority for Copper Mountain is achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2035 — 15 years ahead of national standards. As part of this mission, we have created initiatives that will make Copper Mountain the lowest-emitting, open-pit copper mine in the world.

We are increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and applying innovative uses of renewable energy throughout our operations that will reduce our carbon footprint in the short- and long term. Our objectives and approach to energy management are reflected in our Energy Policy.

Increasing electrification, reducing diesel consumption

To achieve our goal of net-zero carbon emissions, Copper Mountain is implementing a variety of technological improvements and innovations that reduce our carbon load.

In partnership with CleanBC, BC Hydro, Komatsu, SMS, and ABB, we have developed a trolley assist system that will cut carbon emissions by at least 30%, paving a solid foundation for our net-zero goal. In early 2022, Copper Mountain was the first open pit copper mine to successfully commission electric trolley assist haulage in North America.   In recognition of our trolley assist project, we received the 2022 Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Environmental Excellence Award. Please see below for a video of our trolley assist in action.

We are also researching renewable diesel, hydrogen, battery, and fuel-cell, progressive carbon offsets, and other emerging technologies to help us achieve our goal of net zero carbon emissions quickly. Through creative problem-solving and innovation, we will implement new solutions to further our commitment to sustainability.  

Responsible Metals

As part of an innovative solution to build transparency and track responsible producers, Copper Mountain is collaborating with the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation and IBM to build a digital carbon emissions certification system called Mines Digital Trust. This project uses blockchain technology to attach ESG disclosures to metal production, enabling transparency along the supply chain, allowing third parties to track responsible producers. This information is entered into the Open Climate network, which is led by the OpenEarth Foundation and the UN Global Innovation.

The BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation presented a video demonstrating the Mines Digital Trust Ecosystem, featuring Copper Mountain, at COP26, the United Nations climate change conference, which is available below.

Minimizing Waste Streams through Innovative Solutions

Copper Mountain believes it is important to minimize its waste stream and to recycle all that is possible. As another example of Copper Mountain’s innovative approach to sustainability, Copper Mountain has an agreement with Kal Tire to recycle its haul truck tires. Kal Tire and Copper Mountain worked together to develop a new and innovative solution to recycle and repurpose haul truck tires. Please see below for a video demonstrating this process.

Towards Sustainable Mining

The Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) program’s Climate Change Protocol ensures that mining companies will:

• Put in place corporate commitments, governance, and processes at the board and management levels to support the consideration of climate change implications in business strategy.
• Develop facility-level systems to manage energy, greenhouse gas emissions, physical climate impacts, and adaptation.
• Set facility-level energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions performance targets and reporting annually on energy, GHG emissions, potential physical climate impacts, and adaptation measures.

We have achieved at least an ‘A’ or ‘Yes’ rating on all TSM protocols in 2022.