23 October 2024
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The Copper Sustainability Partnership (CuSP) has launched the inaugural Copper Awareness Day to raise awareness of how vital the material is in creating a more sustainable future.
Taking place on 29 October, with the number 29 aligning with copper's atomic number, the initiative aims to highlight copper's role in the built environment and its contribution to improving sustainability across infrastructure.
Oliver Lawton, Co-Founder of CuSP, said: "The formation of a Copper Awareness Day amplifies the importance of using sustainable materials for the future of our planet.
"CuSP is on a mission to inform, innovate and collaborate with industry partners and the next generation to collectively help build a greener future. It's crucial for the sector to prioritise the right materials and this day will mark an opportunity to spread the word and encourage more organisations to get involved."
Research by CuSP recently revealed that plastic waste from the UK construction industry has surged by 210% every two years since 2004 - 15 times faster than the EU - and has a recycling rate as low as 3% for common plastics like PVC. By choosing more sustainable materials like copper in construction projects, waste and greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced.
Andrew Surtees, Co-Founder of CuSP, commented: "While much attention has been given to the dangers of plastic packaging and impact of microplastics on human health, less so has been dedicated to the impact of the plastic piping used in everyday environments such as our homes and hospitals.
"The hazards – from fire safety risks to leaching dangerous chemicals – need to be made known, and at CuSP we have made it our responsibility to share truths and combat misinformation in the industry. As an infinitely recyclable material, copper holds the key to a more sustainable built environment, and we must do more to encourage its benefits over alternative materials like plastic."
To support their mission, CuSP is hosting a programme of informative seminars with local schools and colleges to inspire the next generation of plumbers in the West Midlands region over the next year.
To find out more about the awareness day, visit: https://www.cuspuk.com/cusp-launches-copper-awareness-day/.
