Copper Copper for Health  11 Generations In addition to its role in electronics, copper’s  antimicrobial properties also make it ideal for reducing  germ transfer from surfaces like door handles in places such as hospitals and public transit. Teck is a major world supplier of copper, with five operating mines and large development projects in  Canada and South America. It is a vital component in power generation and transmission, construction, clean technology, electronics  and countless other applications. As the world’s need for infrastructure and consumer products continues to grow, particularly in nations with a rapidly expanding middle class and increasingly urban population, the global demand for copper is increasing in tandem. Copper is essential to our daily lives, whether making a phone call, using a credit card, turning on  the lights or driving the latest hybrid automobile.