Nexans focuses on electrical cable recycling

Paris-based wire and cable manufacturer Nexans says it is “actively investing” in the recycling of nonferrous metals in part by expanding its European reach into the collection and reprocessing of copper and aluminum wire and cable scrap.

“At a time when demand for electricity is set to increase by 35 percent by 2050 and the world is heading for a risk of shortages of raw materials, including copper, Nexans is strengthening its key role as a player in the circular economy to speed up the energy and climate transition,” the firm says.

The company says its recycling-focused efforts can promote “the creation of a sustainable cycle geared towards decarbonized energy” involving extended life cycles, reuse and recycling, thus “reducing the use of virgin resources and lowering the carbon footprint created by the electrification of our activities.”

Nexans says it recycles more than 40,000 metric tons of its own production scrap each year. In Europe, its cable sorting and recovery process is partly carried out through the RecyCâbles joint venture created with environmental services firm Suez in Noyelles-Godault, France.

With 60 years of experience in recycling cable scrap, Nexans says it is stepping up its circular economy strategy and is launching CableLoop, a unique recycling and recovery service for cable offcuts.

Through CableLoop, Nexans will buy used cables, such as construction and demolition site electrical wires or obsolete industrial cables, and “transform them into valuable, infinitely reusable resources for its partners, customers, suppliers and the cable industry.”

CableLoop Enterprises provides on-site collection services, while CableLoop Professionals is a new service offered by specialized distributors, for professional customers and electricians who can return their used cables to their branch.

Through the new recycling channels, Nexans aims to collect more than 800 metric tons of used cables by 2025 and to expand its model by developing collection and recovery within the industrial ecosystem and from its electrical equipment installation and distribution partners in France and Europe.

“Nexans has been aware of the looming copper shortage for many years now and has been warning of the consequences," says Guillaume Teixeira, managing director of Nexans France. "Our strategy incorporates circularity, an essential response to resource scarcity. Electrifying the future expresses Nexans’ conviction not only in terms of innovation but also, and above all, in creating a responsible and sustainable ecosystem for our partners, customers and employees.”

Nexans says it will offer tailor-made logistics services and “simplified, autonomous” materials management on a 24-hour web platform, together with “traceability of the entire chain of operations.”

“Since 2020, we have been working in partnership with Nexans to take back our cable offcuts from construction sites and branches, reflecting our commitment to promoting the circular economy in response to growing customer demand," says Cécile Sannino, a procurement officer with Courbevoie, France-based energy and industrial contractor Equans. "The recycling service provided by Nexans allows us to add value to our waste by giving it a second life.”

Nexans designs and manufactures cable systems and services with a focus on power generation, transmission, distribution and usage.