With Antimicrobial Properties and Organic Elegance, Is It Time for a Copper Revival? Spotlight: Colonial Bronze and Native Trails

Dating back more than 5,000 years, ancient civilizations recognized copper as a material that is not only beautiful, it is vital to our health. In Egypt it was called “ankh”, the symbol for eternal life. Quite appropriately, in fact, considering copper’s natural ability to destroy pathogens. 

Among the many wellness benefits associated with copper are its inherent self-sanitizing properties and its ability to eliminate a wide range of microbes relatively rapidly – and with a high degree of efficiency. Copper and its alloys—including brass (67% copper and 33% zinc), bronze and copper nickel which is visually indistinguishable from stainless steel—are the only antimicrobial touch surfaces approved by the EPA. https://www.copperalloystewardship.com 

Initial research on the current COVID-19 virus indicates a similar pattern. Although preliminary, a recent study conducted by the National Institutes for Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the novel coronavirus survived for only 4 hours on copper versus 72 hours on stainless steel.  

Referred to as “contact killing”, when coronaviruses, superbugs like MRSA, influenza, bacteria and E. coli land on copper, they begin to die within minutes and are undetectable within hours. Copper ions penetrate cells and viruses, destroying their genetic blueprint and eliminating the chance for mutation or evolution. The copper just degrades them. In effect, reducing the spread of infection.

When it comes to maintaining a sanitary environment, we should take a cue from the ancients. Most importantly when it comes to high-touch surfaces such as hardware and sinks. Here are some of our favorite copper/bronze foundry’s producing beautifully hand-crafted products here in the United States. 

COLONIAL BRONZE : Hardware

Colonial Bronze is a 90 year old American manufacturing company which produces high end architectural and decorative brass hardware. They use 94% recycled solid brass on all products and offer 45 different color finishes. They offer the ONLY lifetime finish guarantee on the market. ALL of their products are produced from start to finish in-house in Torrington, Connecticut.

Take a virtual factory tour HERE  

NATIVE TRAILS : Sinks, Tubs & Accessories

Central California-based Native Trails produces artisan-crafted copper sinks and tubs which take several days and many thousands of hammer strikes to perfect. Combining age-old traditions with contemporary design and sustainable materials, founder Naomi Nelson helped to introduce copper as a mainstay material for the kitchen and bath.

Watch how a Copper sink is made HERE