Why Copper?

  • Safe Drinking Water:

Copper is also a much more suitable material for use in water tubes compared to plastic polymers such as PVC and PEX, because it, unlike plastic pipes, ensures for safe drinking water. Copper is inherently antimicrobial and also does not allow for the leaching of harmful substances through the pipes. Plastic Pipes have been found to leach particles through the pipe and also peel easily, releasing plastic particles into the water supply. Consumption of these particles can cause increased risks of cancer, major organ failure, reduced neurodevelopment, lung damage, blood diseases and fertility issues. Furthermore, plastic not recycled will slowly seep toxic substances into the soil and water systems, contaminating crops and disrupting the natural food chains for both humans and animals.

(Microplastics found in water supply)

The long-term consequences of exposure to plastic in drinking water is not yet fully realised, but already causation between drinking water from plastic pipes and very severe adverse side effects to your health are widely reported.

Using copper, which is naturally antimicrobial, as the building material for the water pipes in your house greatly mitigates the health risk associated with plastic water pipes and provides us with much safer drinking water.

 

 

  • More Recyclable / Sustainable:

The main reason copper is a much more suitable building material for use in plumbing than plastic pipes is because it is much more recyclable and thus much more sustainable. Copper is infinitely recyclable, not losing any of its useful properties when recycled over and over again. In contrast, the recycling of plastic is very difficult and expensive, and therefore most plastic pipes are thrown into landfill, with less than 10% being properly recycled.

The use of copper in building houses works coherently with the idea of creating a circular economy, and sustainable building practices to mitigate carbon emissions and damage to the environment. The same cannot be said for plastic pipes, which harm the environment at every stage of their life cycle, from the harmful substances created as the plastic pipes are produced such as , to the harmful substances they leach into the water during their use as water tubes, to their inability to be recycled effectively. As climate change worsens, we must limit our use of single-use products and move towards the use of sustainable materials in building practices, emphasising the importance of the use of copper in the plumbing industry.

 

 

 

  • Fire Safety:

Copper pipes are far more fire resistant and therefore much safer in the event of a fire in your home. Copper pipes can withstand temperatures of up to 1100 degrees Celsius, compared to just 400 degrees for most plastic pipes. This causes fires in buildings with plastic piping to spread much faster than those built with copper pipes.

When plastic pipes are set on fire, they produce harmful, toxic, carcinogenic substances such as hydrogen chloride, sulphur dioxide and benzene. Exposure to these chemicals can cause immunotoxicity and hinder neurodevelopment, impact ones fertility and hormone balances, as well as cause cancer. They also heavily disrupt wildlife and naturally occurring food chains, as well as polluting local water supplies. This problem is ever exacerbated by climate change and an increase in wildfires all across Europe.

Copper pipes, in contrast, are much more resilient in the event of a fire, and thus better mitigate the spread of the fire around your home. This makes copper a much safer building material than plastic, and thus a more suitable option especially for those living with children, or those with existing health concerns.