2654 6. IMPLICATIONS AND NEXT STEPS – FROM RESULTS TO DEPLOYMENT The World Mining Congress calls for faster, smarter and more responsible ways to deliver the minerals the world needs. This paper proposes a deployable, system-optimised pathway: use ISO-aligned LCA as a common language for process engineers, procurement teams, and suppliers, so Scope 3 can be measured and reduced alongside energy efficiency. The method is already in use in this study and can be repeated for other plants and commodities using the same tables and figures as templates. For concentrators similar to the three cases, the immediate priority is to make consumables and reagents visible with the same rigour as electricity. This means collecting supplier-specific factors for liners, grinding media and key reagents; tracking doses and wear rates by unit operation; and updating electricity factors to the actual country and voltage level used on site. These actions shorten the distance between an LCA table and a procurement decision and help meet IFRS S2 [6] expectations for material Scope 3 disclosure with clear methods and data quality notes. The results in Tables 4–5 and Figures 2–4 show where the first tonnes of CO2e can be removed without waiting for major capital cycles. Policymakers are moving toward embedded-emissions disclosure and pricing. CBAM is one example where the calculation method and verification approach are defined. Plant-level LCA provides the evidence base required to comply with such rules, and it allows companies to demonstrate real improvements rather than paper changes. The results highlight priority areas for innovation: metallurgy and design of wear parts to increase life and recycled content; digital control strategies to reduce grinding energy at constant recovery; and verified LCI data for specialty reagents. Extending the gate-to-gate boundary to cradle-to-gate for consumables and to end-of-life pathways will further improve accuracy and help identify circular opportunities. These directions are consistent with current guidance to consider all relevant Scope 3 categories and to be transparent about boundaries, methods and data choices. The current work excludes some units (for example, crushing in two cases) due to data gaps. Reagent and wear factors rely on proxies when supplier-specific data are unavailable, which adds uncertainty. The next iteration should close these gaps by obtaining supplier EPDs or equivalent disclosures for highimpact inputs, updating electricity factors as grids decarbonise, and linking the model to operational data so that the LCI updates with plant changes. These steps will improve confidence and comparability over time and support independent assurance as required by emerging reporting frameworks. 7. CONCLUSION This study shows that integrating LCA with mineral processing simulation provides a practical way to understand and reduce the full carbon footprint of concentrators. Across the copper, iron ore, and lithium case studies, electricity is the largest contributor when grid intensity is high, while wear materials and reagents consistently account for a meaningful share of overall emissions. These results confirm that decarbonising Scope 1 and 2 through renewable electricity is essential but insufficient, as significant Scope 3 impacts remain in consumables and reagents. Reducing these requires better supplier data, improved inventories, location-specific electricity EFs and real operating conditions. The findings also show how LCA supports the World Mining Congress goals by enabling faster action through improvements that fit within normal maintenance cycles, smarter action by revealing system-level trade-offs, and more responsible action through greater transparency and alignment with emerging disclosure standards. The identified pathways – energy sourcing, consumable optimisation, supplier engagement, and improved data quality – offer a practical route for continuous decarbonisation. Although further work should expand boundaries and incorporate dynamic data and verified inventories, the study already demonstrates that LCA provides a strong foundation for guiding operational decisions and supporting the transition to low-carbon mineral processing. REFERENCES [1] International Institute for Sustainable Development, “Decarbonization of the Mining Sector (IISD Report),” International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024.
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