Nexans has developed a prototype electrical cable made entirely from recycled materials. The wire drawing process was carried out by Nexans staff in Yanggu, China, with extrusion work completed by the materials department in France. Final assembly of the 3G2.5 cable took place at the Technocenter Building laboratory in AmpaCity, Lyon.
The prototype includes 100% recycled copper sourced from a partner in China, as well as recycled polyethylene and PVC supplied by European partners. Compared with a standard equivalent cable made from virgin materials, life cycle analysis showed a 76% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing. Other sustainability indicators, including resource depletion and freshwater use, also showed substantial improvement. Nexans aims to integrate 25% recycled copper into its cable production by 2028.
