Essex Furukawa Takes Next Step In The Copper Mark Assurance Process

ATLANTA, GA — Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire, the largest global manufacturer of magnet and winding wire, announced today that it is continuing The Copper Mark Assurance Process with corrective measures to ensure successful completion of the certification program.

Essex Furukawa completed its Phase 1, a self-assessment, between October 2021 and March 2022 and submitted the findings to The Copper Mark. The second phase of the assurance process included a third-party assessment with onsite auditors in December 2022. These results have been published by The Copper Mark.

Based on the results, Essex Furukawa is creating an improvement plan to achieve The Copper Mark status at the four North American facilities assessed. Each plant will submit a specific corrective action plan to address The Copper Mark’s findings, complete with detailed improvement measures to be taken.

“Transparency is easy when things are going well, but it only truly matters during adversity,” North American President Jared Rowntree said. “The opportunity to work with The Copper Mark to improve on our ESG efforts is one that will strengthen each of our locations in North America.

“Our goals have not changed. We remain committed to Vision 2030, our holistic approach to sustainability, and The Copper Mark certification process. We appreciate the feedback we’ve received from The Copper Mark as their insights have been invaluable.”

Essex Furukawa was one of the first manufacturers to join as a semis-fabricator partner with The Copper Mark and remains committed to participation in its pilot program. The Copper Mark is the only comprehensive social and environmental assurance program for the copper industry. The partnership aligns Essex Furukawa and its holistic sustainability program, Vision 2030, to meet its Accountability, Reporting, and Governance goals as well as maintain Supply Chain Transparency.

“We welcome Essex Furukawa’s commitment to The Copper Mark” said Michèle Brülhart, Executive Director at The Copper Mark. “Key principles of The Copper Mark are progressive and continuous improvement. We seek to work with our participants to improve practices and ensure the implementation of our standards over time. Essex Furukawa is the first semis-fabricator to complete the independent third-party assessment and we look forward to work with the four sites throughout their improvement phase.”

About Essex Furukawa

Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire LLC is the leading, global provider of magnet wire that is used by most major OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and industry leaders in the automotive, energy, industrial, and commercial & residential sectors. The Atlanta-based company is a global joint venture formed in 2020 between Essex Magnet Wire and Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., both leaders in magnet wire product development, and custom solutions. The combined entity, relying on the strengths of both Essex Magnet Wire and Furukawa Electric, draws on more than two centuries of combined experience and knowledge to push forward innovation while also remaining focused on delivering manufacturing excellence and outstanding customer service. For more information, visit essexfurukawa.com.

About the Copper Mark

The Copper Mark is an assurance framework available for the copper industry to demonstrate its responsible production practices and its contribution to the United Nations SDGs. The Copper Mark offers a comprehensive system that addresses 32 environmental, social and governance issues related to the responsible production of copper, using the Responsible Minerals Initiative’s (RMI) Risk Readiness Assessment. Initially developed and funded by the International Copper Association (ICA), the Copper Mark is incorporated as an independent entity headquartered in the United Kingdom. For additional information, visit coppermark.org.