Responsible Sourcing
Essex Furukawa is focused on the responsible sourcing of materials used in our manufacturing processes, including that of copper. This approach is one that is actively conscious about procuring products in ethical, sustainable, and socially conscious ways. We also hold ourself accountable to understanding the impacts of our supply chain including investigating potential risks, opportunities for improvement, and information gaps as well as communnicating them to all stakeholders.
Achieving The Copper Mark Certification
We expanded our partnership with The Copper Mark by participating in the Semis-Fabricator Pilot. In June of 2024, three of our North American plants achieved The Copper Mark Assurance Process—Fort Wayne, IN, Franklin, IN and Columbia City, IN. This achievement at our facilities not only ensures our magnet wire products are produced in an ethical and responsible way but it sets a benchmark for the industry and reinforces Essex Furukawa in its position as an ESG leader.
Recycled Copper
Essex Furukawa is currently sourcing 25% of our copper supply in North America from recycled sources thanks to partnerships with key suppliers.
We internally recycle all excess copper from magnet wire production at our North American plants at our Metals Processing Center. We have similar operations in place at locations around the globe in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint.
We internally recycle all excess copper from magnet wire production at our North American plants at our Metals Processing Center. We have similar operations in place at locations around the globe in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint.
Low-Carbon Copper
We are uniquely positioned—through a strategic
sourcing partnership with a low-carbon copper supplier—to offer an innovative solution to customers in Europe to
address and improve the carbon footprint of their supply
chain.
Our low-carbon copper supplier produces a copper cathode with less than 1.5kg of CO₂ emissions per kg which is less than half of the global average presented by the International Copper Association (ICA).
Our low-carbon copper supplier produces a copper cathode with less than 1.5kg of CO₂ emissions per kg which is less than half of the global average presented by the International Copper Association (ICA).
Waybridge Aids Agile Digitization
Superior Essex, the parent brand of Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire, expanded its partnership with Waybridge, a supply chain operating system for raw materials. The company has been utilizing the technology at two of its North American magnet wire manufacturing plants—in the U.S. and Mexico—since August 2021.
The Copper Mark Partnership
Our focus is on the responsible sourcing of materials used in our manufacturing processes, including that of copper. We’re currently in the process of assessing how to responsibly source materials and are actively pursuing various sustainable options. Recognizing some of our largest impacts in our products come from copper extraction, we’ve partnered with The Copper Mark to better define what sustainability in the copper value chain looks like. Currently, 83% of the copper that is sourced in North America is certified by The Copper Mark. And we’re actively seeking sources globally as well.