Shan Poornam: Recycled aluminium, Gold, Silver & Copper – PCF Reports (ISO 14067)ESG Reporting, GHG Emissions, and PCF Assessments
Shan Poornam Metals (SPM) is a leading regional player in industrial waste management, specializing in closed-loop recycling and refining. With a core focus on "Environment, Nature, and Society," SPM has pioneered the practice of urban mining in Malaysia, transforming industrial waste and end-of-life electronics into valuable, high-purity recycled metals. The company's commitment to sustainability is backed by state-of-the-art facilities, a dedicated R&D team, and a comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship.
SuSciCo collaborated with Shan Poornam Metals to enhance their sustainability initiatives by developing a number of Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) reports in compliance with ISO 14067 requirements and conducting a comprehensive GHG inventory for the group and its six subsidiaries.
challenge
The Challenge: Proving the Sustainability of Recycled Aluminium, Gold, Silver and Copper.
The global demand for recycled metals like aluminium, gold, silver, and cooper continues to grow, traditionally met through energy-intensive and environmentally impactful virgin material extraction. For companies striving for sustainability, the challenge is twofold: first, to source high-quality materials that minimize their carbon footprint, and second, to scientifically prove the environmental benefits of their method.
While SPM knew their urban mining process was better, proving it with hard, quantifiable data for their processes for recycled aluminium, gold, silver, and cooper was a complex undertaking. The challenges we faced were significant:
- Complexity of the Recycling Process: Urban mining involves a multi-stage process, from the collection and dismantling of a diverse range of e-waste to the final refining of pure metals. Each stage has its own energy consumption and emissions. Unlike virgin metal production, which has more established data sets, the specific inputs and outputs of a closed-loop recycling facility are unique and require meticulous data collection.
- Data Collection & Traceability: A significant hurdle was gathering reliable and detailed primary data. We needed to trace the entire lifecycle, from the energy used to power shredding machines to the final product. SPM’s supply chain, which includes sourcing e-waste from various collectors, also presented challenges in data consistency and traceability. Without this granular data, a robust and verifiable Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) report for recycled aluminium, gold, silver, and cooper would be impossible.
- Multi-functionality of Recycling: Recycling processes are inherently multi-functional; they both treat waste and produce a new, valuable material. Accurately allocating the environmental burdens and benefits—the “avoided burdens” of not using virgin materials—is a critical aspect of life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology.
solution
A Partnership for Credible Validation
To overcome these challenges, SPM partnered with SuSciCo, a leading ESG and GHG specialist firm. SuSciCo’s role went far beyond simply calculating numbers; they were a strategic partner in navigating the complexities of the project. SuSciCo’s expertise was instrumental in:
- Developing a Robust Methodology: We worked together to define the scope and system boundaries of the PCF study, ensuring a comprehensive “cradle-to-gate” analysis that captured all relevant emissions for the recycled aluminium, gold, silver and copper products
- Overcoming Data Gaps: SuSciCo provided guidance on the necessary data points, helping to standardize data collection processes across SPM’s operations. We worked closely with SPM’s team to collect and verify primary data, ensuring the highest level of accuracy for the recycled metals reports.
- Scientific and Technical Expertise: By applying our deep knowledge of international standards like ISO 14067, industry-specific methodologies, and addressing the complexities of multi-functionality, SuSciCo ensured that the final PCF reports were not only accurate but also credible and defensible against scrutiny.
results
The collaboration with SuSciCo produced six comprehensive Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) reports, offering clear proof of the environmental value of SPM’s urban mining process. These reports highlight the substantial advantages of using recycled metals in place of virgin materials.
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Recycled Aluminum: The PCF confirmed that recycled aluminum has only a fraction of the environmental footprint of virgin aluminum, demonstrating its role as a highly sustainable alternative.
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Recycled Copper: Both copper anode and cathode produced through recycling showed significantly lower impacts than virgin copper, underlining urban mining as a practical pathway to decarbonize the copper supply chain.
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Recycled Gold and Silver: E-waste recycling drastically reduces the footprint of precious metals, avoiding the destructive practices, high energy use, and toxic by-products associated with conventional mining.
Together, these findings demonstrate that SPM’s approach to urban mining is not only technically sound but also transformative for sustainability. By proving that recycled metals deliver a far lighter environmental impact, SPM can credibly position itself as a leader in the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy.
A Path to Sustainable Procurement
This project demonstrates that Product Carbon Footprint Urban Mining is not just a waste management practice; it is a scientifically validated and critical component of a sustainable future. The detailed and verified PCF reports empower Shan Poornam Metals and its clients to make data-driven decisions. By choosing SPM’s recycled aluminium, gold, silver, and copper, businesses can:
- Drastically Reduce Emissions: The proven lower carbon footprints allow companies to meet their decarbonization goals.
- Conserve Natural Resources: Recycling keeps finite resources in circulation, reducing the demand for new, environmentally destructive mining.
- Drive the Circular Economy: Sustainable procurement of recycled aluminium closes the loop on product life cycles, ensuring that valuable resources are not lost to landfills.
This scientific validation, made possible by SuSciCo’s expertise, confirms that supporting urban mining through sustainable procurement is a powerful and effective way for companies to achieve their sustainability commitments and build a greener, more resilient supply chain.
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SuSciCo conducted the Life Cycle Assessment in a smooth and efficient manner, making the entire process clear and straightforward for us. The final report was highly informative and provided valuable insights for our work. We truly appreciated their responsiveness, professionalism, and commitment to delivering quality results.
At Zero Waste Earth Store we are incredibly grateful for the exceptional GHG reporting services provided by SuSciCo. Their expertise and dedication played a crucial role in the promotion of our successful recycling campaign. Their accurate measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions allowed us to showcase the significant environmental impact of our recycling efforts. Professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to sustainability made SuSciCo an invaluable partner in our mission. I highly recommend their services to any organization seeking to make a positive environmental difference. Thank you, Ildar Usmanov, for your outstanding support!
