The Copper Sustainability Partnership (CuSP) has launched Copper Awareness Day, which is set to take place on 29 October annually, with the number 29 aligning with copper’s atomic number.
According to a statement, the initiative aims to highlight copper’s essential role in the built environment and its contribution to improving sustainability across infrastructure.
CuSP said its mission is to raise awareness of the importance of using sustainable materials to combat the rising prevalence of plastic in construction, and the awareness day will support this through the sharing of information and resources.
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 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.
CuSP is set to host a programme of seminars with local schools and colleges to inspire the next generation of plumbers in the West Midlands region over the next year.