Carbon ambition and low-carbon strategy

At Nexans, climate ambition is at the core of our strategy. We are committed to accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions across our entire value chain and delivering innovative low-carbon cable solutions.

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With science-based targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Nexans is aligned with a 1.5°C trajectory and a clear roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Our climate targets and net-zero roadmap
Nexans’ climate commitments cover 99% of its total greenhouse gas emissions and define measurable milestones:

By 2030

Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46.2%
Reduce Scope 3 emissions by 30%.

By 2050

Achieve net-zero emissions across all scopes
Reduce emissions by 90%.

These targets guide investment decisions, product innovation, and supply chain strategies across the Group.

Climate governance and strategy integration

Climate ambition is fully embedded into Nexans’ governance and decision-making processes.

  • Internal carbon pricing supports decision-making
  • Climate performance is integrated into remuneration at all levels
  • ESG criteria guide procurement and supplier engagement
  • Regulatory compliance is systematically embedded into operations.

Through this approach, Nexans ensures that every strategic decision contributes to its decarbonization trajectory while strengthening resilience and long-term value creation.

low carbon program

Our low-carbon program: driving sustainable electrification

Nexans has developed a comprehensive low-carbon program to reduce emissions across the entire lifecycle of its cables, from raw material sourcing to product use.

This program combines:

  • Low-carbon material sourcing
  • Circular economy initiatives
  • Energy-efficient product design
  • Industrial and digital innovation.

It enables Nexans to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of its products while supporting customers in their own climate ambitions.

Get more information about our low-carbon program
low carbon offer

A range of low-carbon cables

Nexans offers a range of low-carbon distribution cables that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% to 50%, depending on the product.

These cables are designed with:

  • Low-carbon aluminum
  • Recycled plastics
  • Local production in France
  • Strict supplier environmental selection.

This innovative range meets growing demand for sustainable cable solutions and supports the decarbonization of electrification infrastructure.

Our sustainable solutions

Advancing low-carbon aluminum through partnerships

Trimet aluminum reels

Recycled aluminum innovation with Trimet

In partnership with Trimet, Nexans has developed a new generation of conductors using recycled aluminum, enabling a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of electrical cables.

This joint innovation makes it possible to produce aluminum alloys that meet the highest mechanical and electrical performance standards while incorporating recycled content, an important technical challenge in the cable industry. Recycling aluminum requires only a fraction of the energy needed for primary production, offering substantial CO₂ savings.

By combining advanced recycling processes with optimized material sourcing, Nexans and Trimet are accelerating the transition toward more circular and low-carbon cable solutions, supporting both decarbonization and resource efficiency.

aluminum cables

Breakthrough low-carbon aluminum with Alcoa

In partnership with Alcoa, Nexans is accelerating the use of next-generation low-carbon aluminum.

This collaboration introduces aluminum produced using the ELYSIS™ technology, an innovative process that eliminates direct greenhouse gas emissions from traditional smelting and releases oxygen instead.

Nexans is the first cable manufacturer to integrate this breakthrough material into its products, enabling a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of cables across low-, medium-, and high-voltage applications.

This partnership builds on the use of already available low-carbon aluminum solutions and reinforces Nexans’ leadership in sustainable electrification.

Aluminium Forward 2030

Driving industry transformation with Aluminium Forward 2030

Nexans is also a member of the Aluminium Forward 2030, a global initiative led by the International Aluminium Institute.

This coalition brings together producers, manufacturers, and downstream players to:
– Accelerate the transition to net-zero aluminum production
– Promote circularity across the value chain
– Align industry practices with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

By participating in this collaborative platform, Nexans contributes to transforming aluminum supply chains and scaling low-carbon solutions across industries.

Reducing carbon footprint of cable materials

The environmental impact of cables is largely driven by raw materials:

  • 50% to 90% of emissions come from copper and aluminum
  • Remaining impact comes from plastics, transport, and manufacturing.

To reduce this footprint, Nexans:

  • Sources low-carbon and recycled materials
  • Integrates up to 50% recycled plastic content
  • Optimizes manufacturing and logistics
  • Selects suppliers based on decarbonization performance.

 

Reducing emissions across the cable lifecycle

Up to 90% of lifecycle emissions occur during the use phase due to electrical energy losses.

To address this, Nexans deploys a full range of solutions:

  • Engineering services to optimize cable performance
  • High-efficiency cable designs
  • Lifecycle-based environmental optimization.

Innovative solutions for low-carbon electrification

In line with its E3 (Economic, Environment, Engagement) model, Nexans develops solutions that reduce emissions at every stage:

  • EDR MAX® cable: reduces installation emissions by ~10%
  • ULTRACKER®: improves operational efficiency through digital monitoring
  • Advanced engineering and design services.

The Group also promotes circularity through RecyCâbles, in partnership with Suez.

Transparency and customer support
To support customers’ climate strategies, Nexans provides:

Third-party verified Product Environmental Profiles (PEP Ecopassport®)

Project-specific carbon footprint assessments

Transparent lifecycle environmental data

Reducing hazardous substances in cables

All Nexans products comply with legislation relating to chemical substances, in particular, the REACh regulation (EC 1907/2016) and the RoHS directive (2011/65/EU) to better protect human health and the environment. Nexans has set an annual target to eliminate dangerous substances, which is to be achieved by implementing a dedicated roadmap and action plan.

Nexans ensures full compliance with key regulations, to better protect human health and the environment:

  • REACh Regulation (EC 1907/2016)
  • RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU)

Beyond regulatory compliance, Nexans is committed to progressively reducing and substituting hazardous substances in its products, in line with its environmental policy. This commitment is articulated around three complementary pillars: anticipation, innovation and transparency:

Nexans has set an annual target to eliminate dangerous substances, which is to be achieved by implementing a dedicated roadmap and action plan.

 

Supporting the net-zero transition

By embedding climate ambition into its strategy, Nexans is contributing to a low-carbon electrification future.
Through strategic partnerships, breakthrough materials, and lifecycle innovation, Nexans is reducing emissions across the cable industry while enabling customers to accelerate their own energy transition.

Go further

Our low-carbon program

Circular economy at Nexans

Our CSR performance