Teck bandages tech institute with copper

Teck Resources Ltd. and the British Columbia Institute of Technology Sept. 8 announced the installation of more than 1,000 antimicrobial copper patches on high-touch surfaces at the institute in Burnaby, BC, the first installation of its kind at a post-secondary institution in Canada.

Funded through Teck's Copper and Health program, the installation seeks to create a safer environment for students, faculty, and staff due to copper's natural antimicrobial properties.

"We are proud to partner with BCIT and commend the institute's leadership on this initiative which creates a safer environment for students and staff," said Teck Resources President and CEO Don Lindsay. "As part of our Copper and Health program, Teck has been working to expand the use of antimicrobial copper in high-traffic public spaces. This partnership is another important step forward and we will continue working to make our communities safer."

The initiative follows a five-week trial that Teck funded in 2020 in which the antimicrobial properties of copper products were tested on two TransLink buses on high-ridership routes and two SkyTrain cars. The results from that trial showed that copper effectively kills up to 99.9% of bacteria on high-touch transit surfaces.

Health Canada-certified Copper Clean antimicrobial surface patches manufactured by Canada-based Coptek Copper Covers will be applied to high-touch surfaces at BCIT, such as door handles and railings across five buildings. The patches are self-sanitizing adhesive copper covers that are expected to reduce the transmission of bacteria from locations that are highly active from human contact.

To date, copper is the only solid metal touch surface registered by Health Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, proven to eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria remnant on surfaces.

"As we start a new fall term, we are committed to continuing to provide a safe place to work and learn for all staff, faculty, and students," said British Columbia Institute of Technology President Kathy Kinloch. "With the installation of this innovative antimicrobial copper on high-touch surfaces across our Burnaby campus, the Copper and Health program builds on a productive and exciting partnership between Teck and BCIT spanning over 35 years."

Through its Copper and Health program, Teck has been working with partners across Canada and beyond to increase the use of copper-infused surfaces in healthcare and public spaces to reduce the spread of infections.

When installed on high-touch surfaces, copper has been proven to kill bacteria, thus reducing the spread of illness and improving health outcomes. Moreover, Teck has received no commercial benefits through this program, as its only goal has been to improve health and safety for communities.

"We commend Teck's efforts to both spread awareness and further our mission of making the world a safer place by expanding the use of antimicrobial copper," said Coptek Copper Covers Founder Louis Goldberg. "Through this innovative partnership, BCIT is putting health and safety at the forefront and helping to make our communities safer."