CuSP launches Copper Awareness Day
We know that copper is the superior product, but in order to help the rest of the world sit up and take note, we have launched an official Copper Awareness Day.
Observed annually on 29th October, Copper Awareness Day aims to highlight copper’s essential role in the built environment and its contribution to improving sustainability across our infrastructure.
29 is a special number too, as it is actually copper’s atomic number which makes remembering the date easy!
Why do we need Copper Awareness Day?
Our research has shown that plastic waste from the UK construction industry has increased by 210% every year since 2004 – 15 times faster than in the EU – and has a recycling rate as low as 3% for common plastics like PVC.
By choosing to celebrate Copper Awareness Day with us, you’re pledging to choose more sustainable materials like copper in construction projects, helping to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Copper is an essential part of our everyday lives and can be found in everything from the piping in your homes to the advanced renewable energy systems that power our world. It has natural anti-corrosive properties and because it’s infinitely recyclable it’s an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic pipes.
The founding of Copper Awareness Day comes at a time when a net-zero future by 2050 doesn’t feel that far away and is very much a priority across construction, transportation, and energy sectors to name a few. By celebrating copper this Copper Awareness Day, you can help highlight its importance in achieving sustainability goals.
Why should I choose copper?
Copper’s durability and resistance to corrosion make it the ideal alternative for plastic piping, which poses health risks and environmental concerns through emitting dangerous microplastics.
It’s little wonder it’s the pro plumbers’ number one choice. Not only that, but copper is helping to support the transition to low-carbon energy systems, to be driven forward by the Future Homes Standard in 2025, with its thermal conductivity making it suitable for heat pumps.
What do the CuSP team say about Copper Awareness Day?
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. The sector must prioritise the right materials and this day will mark an opportunity to spread the word and encourage more organisations to get involved.”
Andrew Surtees, Co-Founder of CuSP, commented: “While much attention has been given to the dangers of plastic packaging and the 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.”
How can I celebrate Copper Awareness Day?
The first Copper Awareness Day was marked in 2024 and will grow each year. On this page, you’ll find resources you can download to celebrate Copper Awareness Day including assets for your social media channels, and more.
Please use the hashtag #CopperAwarenessDay in your social media posts on October 29th, and here are some ideas for your content:
- Share how and why you’re choosing copper
- Highlight copper’s everyday uses
- Post about the sustainability of copper versus plastic
To continue our mission, we will be hosting a programme of informative seminars with local schools and colleges to inspire the next generation of plumbers across the West Midlands region over the next year. We hope to extend this in the future.