Scientists are exploring innovative ways to achieve sustainable copper mining and reduce environmental damage.
When you plug in your phone, flip on the lights, or drive an electric car, you rely on copper. This metal powers modern life and is in nearly every home, gadget, and power grid. But behind this essential resource lies a serious problem: traditional copper mining is wrecking the planet.
A new research center in London is working on a bold solution. Backed by $150 million in funding, scientists are racing to develop cleaner, greener ways to get the copper we need without causing environmental chaos. The goal is to achieve truly sustainable copper mining that keeps both technology and nature thriving.
Copper isn’t just another metal. It’s special. It carries electricity with almost no energy loss. It doesn’t rust easily. It’s bendable but strong. That makes it perfect for power lines, batteries, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels.
As the world pushes toward net-zero emissions (where we stop adding harmful carbon to the air) the demand for copper is surging. In 2023, 22 million tonnes of copper were mined globally. That’s 30% more than in 2010. Experts say that number will more than double by 2050. That means we’ll need around 50 million tonnes of copper every year to power the clean energy revolution.
And yet, our current mining methods are damaging the planet we’re trying to save. Traditional copper mining is brutal on the environment. Miners often use powerful acids to extract copper from rock. These chemicals can poison rivers, destroy soil, and pollute the air. In countries like Peru, Chile, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—major copper producers—entire ecosystems have been wiped out. Nearby communities have reported health issues and water shortages.
Some companies have suggested mining copper from the ocean floor. However, marine biologists say this would destroy fragile sea life and possibly affect global food chains. The world needs a better way forward. That’s where sustainable copper mining comes in.
This new research centre, based at Imperial College London, brings together scientists from around the world. Partners include the University of British Columbia in Canada, the University of California, Berkeley, the Australian National University, and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.
Funded by global mining giant Rio Tinto, the center is tackling one huge question: How can we extract copper without wrecking the environment?
Professor Mary Ryan, one of the center’s founders, says copper is the biggest bottleneck in the clean energy transition. “The world needs to electrify its energy systems, and success will absolutely depend on copper,” she said.
Professor Matthew Jackson, an expert in geological fluid dynamics at Imperial, leads one promising project. Instead of digging huge holes in the ground, Jackson’s team explores a surprising alternative: copper-rich underground brines.
These salty water pools form naturally in volcanic regions. They contain high levels of copper and are still in liquid form, making extraction much easier and far less damaging. The best part is that these volcanic areas also provide geothermal energy. That means the entire process could power itself and even supply extra energy to nearby communities.
“We’re essentially trying to create self-powered copper mines,” Jackson explained. Promising test sites have already been found in New Zealand. Japan, which usually lacks copper deposits, is also being considered.
This idea could revolutionize sustainable copper mining by replacing toxic, high-energy practices with cleaner and more efficient ones.
Not all copper has to come from deep underground. Some of it is left behind in the soil after old mining projects. That’s where a startup called RemePhy comes in. The company, founded by Imperial PhD students Franklin Keck and Ion Ioannou, uses genetically modified plants and bacteria to extract copper from polluted soil.
These plant-bacteria systems are designed to thrive in contaminated areas. As the plants grow, they absorb copper from the soil. Once harvested, the metal can be recovered.
This approach doesn’t just mine leftover copper; it helps clean up toxic land. It’s another win for sustainable copper mining. Another overlooked solution is recycling. Copper can be reused without losing quality. Yet, only about one-third of global copper demand is met through recycling today.
Boosting recycling could relieve pressure on mining, reduce energy use, and cut pollution. For example, recycling copper uses up to 85% less energy than extracting it from ore.
Adding more recycling to the sustainable copper mining strategy just makes sense. It’s cheaper, cleaner, and already proven to work.
Why should you care about how copper is mined? Because copper is in everything you use: your phone, car, and home wiring. As demand rises, shortages could drive prices up. Pollution could reach your air, water, and food if mining remains dirty.
The work being done at the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials could change how copper is sourced across the world. If they succeed, you might one day charge your phone or drive your EV knowing the copper inside was mined without harming a single river, forest, or coral reef.
