7/8/21  Superior Essex has completed an agreement to become the eighth corporate partner of The Copper Mark, which it notes is the only comprehensive social and environmental assurance program for the copper industry.

A press release said that the partnership aligns with the corporate sustainability goals of Superior Essex, and its recently announced Vision 2030 for the Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire brand. The focus of the initiative is to responsibly source raw materials being used in its magnet wire products. Superior Essex Communications, a global producer of communication cabling, has been a leader in sustainability since 2011, working in collaboration with its copper suppliers.

The Copper Mark demonstrates the copper industry’s responsible production practices and industry contribution to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. It assesses criteria of 32 different environmental, social, and governance “issue areas” of sourcing of minerals and metals. It sets to establish sound management practices based on voluntary standards for supply chains.

Annie Bevan, the global head of sustainability for Superior Essex, told WJI that the formalization of the relationship helps the brand advance its efforts. “This commitment showcases the ways in which our sourcing and sustainability efforts can work hand in hand within the organization, as well as the upstream and downstream activities outside of the organization.”

“This partnership is a victory from all sides of our business operations,” said Scott Wilde, global vice president of strategic sourcing for Superior Essex. “As our CEO, Brian Kim, recently launched his Vision 2030 commitments, we took this as a challenge to be forward thinking with green production and improving our product from the source which is a major step in the right direction.”