Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has partnered with Teck Resources Limited through YVR’s Innovation Hub and Teck’s Copper & Health programme to install antimicrobial copper on high-touch surfaces to help protect the health and safety of travellers, visitors and staff. With this installation, YVR is the first airport in Canada to incorporate antimicrobial copper, which is proven to continuously kill bacteria and reduce the spread of infection.
Through the partnership, nearly 1,000 antimicrobial copper applications have already been installed on baggage carts, water fountains and washrooms throughout the terminal as well as YVR’s offices, with plans to further expand the installation of antimicrobial copper at YVR.
Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO, YVR, commented: “At YVR, innovation is central to who we are and how we operate. By way of our Innovation Hub, we are proud to be the first airport in Canada to partner with Teck’s Copper & Health programme to advance local innovations that benefit the health and safety of our passengers and the community at large.”
The products provided for this project are CuVerro Shield™ by Aereus Technologies and Copper Clean by CopTek, both manufactured in Canada. Copper has unique antimicrobial properties and is proven effective in eliminating up to 99.9% of harmful bacteria within 2 hours. When installed in high-touch, high-traffic locations, antimicrobial copper can help reduce the spread of infection. Used on high-touch surfaces at YVR, antimicrobial copper is acting as an added layer of protection, in addition to normal cleaning procedures, to reduce the spread of bacteria as tens of thousands of passengers move throughout the airport each day.
Don Lindsay, President and CEO, Teck, said: “We commend YVR’s innovative spirit as the first airport in Canada to install antimicrobial copper on high-touch surfaces, which is a proven way to enhance safety. Teck’s Copper & Health program is helping make communities safer by expanding the use of antimicrobial copper in public spaces and this important partnership is a significant step forward in that work.”
