Misc
From Lead to Copper: Replacing America’s Aging Water Infrastructure
The following content is sponsored by the Copper Development Association
From Lead to Copper: Replacing America’s Aging Water Infrastructure
Water service lines, crucial for connecting buildings to the public water supply, are often outdated and built from lead, presenting significant health risks to Americans.
As the government invests billions toward replacing lead service lines, copper pipelines offer a safe, reliable, resilient, and sustainable alternative.
This infographic from the Copper Development Association illustrates how investing in the transition from lead to copper is crucial for providing safe water to millions of Americans.
The Problem with Lead Service Lines
In the 20th century, lead was commonly used for water service lines and plumbing pipes.
However, lead pipes can degrade over time, leading to the release of lead particles into drinking water. Even at low-to-moderate levels, lead exposure can have severe negative health impacts, including:
- Hearing loss
- Anemia
- Kidney impairment
- Immune system dysfunction
Today, every state in America has lead service lines (LSLs) that the federal government is actively working to replace.
Besides LSLs, an additional 2.8 million galvanized water pipes also need replacing.
Delivering Safe Water
Copper tubing has become the primary material to replace old water service lines.
The red metal is an antimicrobial material that kills pathogens, and it is also highly corrosion-resistant, with a typical service life of over 50 years.
In addition, copper service lines are impermeable and prevent outside chemicals from leaking into water. Copper tubes can be fully recycled at the end of their useful lives without losing any beneficial properties.
Replacing Lead Service Lines with Copper
If America were to replace all 12 million of its lead and galvanized service lines, it would require more than 650 million feet of copper tubing, equivalent to 180,000 tonnes of metal. To compare, the U.S. produced 22 million tonnes of copper in 2022.
The U.S. has commissioned several large-scale copper recycling projects in recent years, creating opportunities to meet the demand with recycled and mined supply.
However, upgrading the nation’s water infrastructure will require over $56 billion, way more than the $15 billion currently provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Visit Copper Development Association to learn more about how copper is crucial for providing safe water to millions of Americans.
Misc
Charted: The End-of-Life Recycling Rates of Select Metals
End-of-life recycling rates measure the percentage of a material that is recovered at the end of its useful life, rather than being disposed of or incinerated.
Charted: The End-of-Life Recycling Rates of Select Metals
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on Apple or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
We visualize the end-of-life recycling rates (EOL-RR) of commonly used metals in the economy. Data is sourced from the International Energy Agency, last updated in 2021.
Tracking recycling rates helps manage resources better and make smarter policies, guiding efforts to cut down on waste.
Ranked: The End of Life Recycling Rates of Select Metals
Gold has an 86% recycling rate according to the latest available data. Per the Boston Consulting Group, one-third of total gold supply was met through recycling between 1995–2014.
| Metal | End-of-life recycling rate (2021) | 🔍 Used In |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 86% | 💍 Jewelry / Electronics |
| Platinum/Palladium | 60% | 🔬 Optical fibers / Dental fillings |
| Nickel | 60% | 🔋 Batteries / Turbine blades |
| Silver | 50% | 💍 Jewelry / Mirrors |
| Copper | 46% | 🔌 Electrical wiring / Industrial equipment |
| Aluminum | 42% | ✈️ Aeroplane parts / Cans |
| Chromium | 34% | 🍽️ Stainless steel / Leather tanning |
| Zinc | 33% | 🔗 Galvanizing metal / Making rubber |
| Cobalt | 32% | 🔋 Batteries / Turbine engines |
| Lithium | 0.5% | 🔋 Batteries / Pacemakers |
| REEs | 0.2% | 📱 Mobile phones / Hard drives |
Note: Figures are rounded.
Several factors can influence metal recycling rates. According to this International Resource Panel report, metals that are used in large quantities (steel) or have a high value (gold) tend to have higher recycling rates.
However, for materials used in small quantities in complex products (rare earth elements in electronics), recycling becomes far more challenging.
Finally, a metal’s EOL-RR is strongly influenced by the least efficient link in the recycling chain, which is typically how it’s initially collected.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
If you enjoyed this post, check out Critical Materials: Where China, the EU, and the U.S. Overlap which shows how critical materials are classified within different jurisdictions.
Misc
Companies with the Most Fossil Fuel and Cement CO2 Emissions
Half of the world’s total fossil fuel and cement carbon dioxide emissions in 2023 came from just 36 companies.
Companies with the Most Fossil Fuel and Cement CO2 Emissions
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- Half of the world’s fossil fuel and cement carbon dioxide emissions in 2023 came from just 36 entities, according to a report by the Carbon Majors Project
- If Saudi Aramco were a country, it would be the fourth-largest polluter in the world, after China, the U.S., and India.
- Five publicly traded oil companies—ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, TotalEnergies, and BP—together accounted for 5% of global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels.
Chinese Companies Dominate the List
This graphic is based on Carbon Majors, a database of historical production data from 180 of the world’s largest oil, gas, coal, and cement producers representing 169 active and 11 inactive entities.
In 2023, the top 20 highest carbon-producing entities were responsible for 17.5 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e) in emissions, accounting for 40.8% of global fossil fuel and cement CO₂ emissions. The list is largely dominated by state-owned companies, with 16 of the top 20 being state-controlled. Notably, eight Chinese entities contributed to 17.3% of global fossil fuel and cement CO₂ emissions in 2023.
| Entity | Total emissions (MtCO2e) | Global CO2 emissions (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saudi Aramco | 4.4% |
| 2 | Coal India | 3.7% |
| 3 | CHN Energy | 3.7% |
| 4 | Jinneng Group | 2.9% |
| 5 | Cement industry of China | 2.8% |
| 6 | National Iranian Oil Company | 2.8% |
| 7 | Gazprom | 2.3% |
| 8 | Rosneft | 1.9% |
| 9 | Shandong Energy | 1.7% |
| 10 | China National Coal Group | 1.7% |
| 11 | Abu Dhabi National Oil Company | 1.6% |
| 12 | CNPC | 1.6% |
| 13 | Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group | 1.6% |
| 14 | Iraq National Oil Company | 1.3% |
| 15 | Shanxi Coking Coal Group | 1.3% |
| 16 | ExxonMobil | 1.3% |
| 17 | Sonatrach | 1.2% |
| 18 | Chevron | 1.1% |
| 19 | Kuwait Petroleum Corp. | 1.0% |
| 20 | Petrobras | 1.0% |
| 21 | Shell | 0.9% |
| 22 | Pemex | 0.9% |
| 23 | TotalEnergies | 0.8% |
| 24 | QatarEnergy | 0.8% |
| 25 | Lukoil | 0.8% |
| 26 | BP | 0.8% |
| 27 | Glencore | 0.7% |
| 28 | China Huaneng Group | 0.7% |
| 29 | Luan Chemical Group | 0.7% |
| 30 | Equinor | 0.7% |
| 31 | Peabody Energy | 0.7% |
| 32 | Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. | 0.6% |
| 33 | CNOOC | 0.6% |
| 34 | ConocoPhillips | 0.6% |
| 35 | Eni | 0.6% |
| 36 | Petronas | 0.5% |
Coal continued to be the largest source of emissions in 2023, representing 41.1% of emissions in the database and continuing a steady upward trend since 2016. Coal emissions grew by 1.9% (258 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent – MtCO₂e) from 2022, while cement saw the largest relative increase at 6.5% (82 MtCO₂e), driven by expanding production.
In contrast, natural gas emissions fell by 3.7% (164 MtCO₂e), and oil emissions remained stable with only a slight increase of 0.3% (73 MtCO₂e).
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic that shows greenhouse gas emissions by sector in 2023, according to data was compiled by the United Nations. The power sector remains the largest emissions contributor.
-
Electrification2 years agoThe Six Major Types of Lithium-ion Batteries: A Visual Comparison
-
Real Assets2 years agoWhich Countries Have the Lowest Inflation?
-
Misc3 years agoHow Is Aluminum Made?
-
Electrification3 years agoThe World’s Top 10 Lithium Mining Companies
-
Real Assets1 year ago200 Years of Global Gold Production, by Country
-
Electrification2 years agoLife Cycle Emissions: EVs vs. Combustion Engine Vehicles
-
Misc2 years agoMapped: U.S. Mineral Production Value by State in 2022
-
Energy Shift2 years agoMapped: Biggest Sources of Electricity by State and Province