HAMBURG, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Aurubis AG, Europe's largest copper producer, on Tuesday said it has agreed to work with giant Chilean mining group Codelco on environmentally responsible copper mining practices to improve its supply chain's green credentials.

Aurubis CEO Roland Harings told Reuters Aurubis will seek to provide Codelco, the world's top copper producer, with technology and know-how to achieve more environmentally-friendly operations in Chile, including at its copper smelters.

The two companies plan more than 15 joint projects. Aurubis will provide Codelco with technical expertise including methods and equipment to reduce air and water emissions, measure and analyse pollution, and address health and safety.

For example, Aurubis could share technology from its main Hamburg smelter, where it has achieved low pollution enabling it to work in a city-centre site.

"Aurubis has a great volume of expertise and experience in reducing the environmental impact of copper production in Germany and elsewhere in Europe," Harings said in an interview.

"We can make this available to Codelco which in turn will enable us to achieve a greater level of sustainability in our supply chain and offer the potential for more copper for Europe’s green energy transition."

Aurubis did not disclose the costs of any of the planned projects.

Its collaboration with Codelco comes as the copper industry increasingly pushes to ensure copper is responsibly produced from mine to end products.

However, European Union countries last Friday postponed a decision on a proposed law requiring large companies to determine if their supply chains cause environmental damage.

"I think we will show that industry can achieve sustainable supply chains without the bureaucracy associated with legislation," Harings said.

On Feb. 6, Aurubis reported earnings partly hit by high costs following metal theft in Hamburg.

Harings said he is quite confident that Aurubis has put the impact of the criminal activity behind it, but Aurubis must step up its guard against crime, including cybercrime.

"Aurubis is very well positioned in expanding markets and is staying on a course for profitability," he said. (Reporting by Michael Hogan; Editing by Sonali Paul)