Cupron, a company known for pioneering copper-based antimicrobial innovations, has launched Cupron Clear, a new liquid copper biocide that is replacing legacy chemical solutions with a sustainable, safe, and effective alternative. ChemAnalyst spoke with Christopher Andrews, CEO of Cupron, and Todd Miller, SVP of Sales, exclusively about the technology, its applications, and the broader industry implications.
Q: What is Cupron Clear, and what makes it unique?
Chris Andrews:
Cupron Clear is a sustainable alternative to traditional biocide chemistries. We have innovated a way to stabilize copper one, and that is the Cuprous form of copper - the most effective form of copper for antimicrobial, anti-odor, and skin benefits. Until now, most copper-based products used the less effective Cupric (Copper II) form. We’ve developed a way to industrialize Cuprous copper at a competitive cost, offering superior performance while supporting human health.
Q: Where can Cupron Clear be used?
Chris Andrews:
It’s suitable for both traditional biocide markets and personal care. We’ve identified 10 key market sectors - medical devices, household, industrial & institutional hygiene, personal care, coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers (CASE), textiles & plastics, building & construction, oil & gas, water infrastructure and specialty industrial uses. These are the ten spaces that we have applications in or actively developing products right now with other companies.
We started with medical devices, which required high regulatory compliance. That foundation now supports expansion across a wide industrial spectrum.
Q: What market gap is Cupron Clear addressing?
Todd Miller:
We feel there's an unmet need of having a chemistry that can be antimicrobial, anti odor in nature, but at the same time healthy for all human life. Cupron Clear offers a four part value proposition in this regard:
1. Sustainability – It's a naturally occurring compound.
2. Efficacy – It works where many “green” alternatives fall short.
3. Stability – Copper is resistant to UV, heat, and other formulation stresses.
4. Cost Competitiveness – It's on par with traditional options like QUATs.
We’re not asking customers to trade performance for sustainability—Clear delivers both.
Q: Tell us more about the technology behind Cupron Clear.
Todd Miller:
Our legacy is in copper-infused polymers and textiles, where we proved copper’s antimicrobial power. The challenge was always colour and delivery, since copper it is naturally orange or reddish in colour in its pure state. Clear solves this by providing colorless copper ions in a stable liquid form—both oil- and water-based. That opens the door to markets like personal care, surface disinfection, coatings, and more.
Chris Andrews:
It’s about commercializing an innovation in a way that aligns with industrial manufacturing. That’s what makes it a breakthrough.
Q: Do you have real-world results that supports this?
Chris Andrews:
Yes, of course. One of our early applications is in wound care. Copper-infused dressings are now used in 58 countries. Beyond antimicrobial action, they accelerate healing by delivering copper to the site, helping the body generate new skin cells. We’ve seen chronic wounds that hadn’t healed in years close within 90–180 days using our product—especially after silver-based dressings had failed. Tremendous demonstration of the of the value of the medical and antimicrobial technology.
Q: What user feedback have you received from other industries?
Todd Miller:
we are still very much in the process of developing user feedback from other industries, but feedback from surface disinfection and cleaning sectors is promising—especially in industries like healthcare, hospitality, and education. These sectors are under pressure to move away from synthetic biocides. Clear addresses both regulatory concerns and consumer expectations with a sustainable, high-performing alternative.
Q: How does Clear compare to traditional QUATs (quaternary ammonium compounds)?
Chris Andrews:
Clear uses copper—a natural element the human body relies on daily. Without it, 10 of our most vital organs would fail to function or even exist! Our bodies know how to absorb and eliminate excess copper, unlike synthetic molecules like QUATs or even metals like silver. We’ve also made Clear cost-competitive with QUATs, making it a viable replacement.
Todd Miller:
QUATs are mostly man-made molecules. Copper atoms have existed since the dawn of time—and the human body evolved to depend on them. We know they are important to the human body and human physiology, animal or plant life. That’s the core of our value proposition: natural, potent, proven.
Q: Is there an industry trend toward metal-based or natural biocides?
Todd Miller:
Absolutely. Especially in personal care and hygiene - deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, creams, shampoos - there’s a growing push for natural preservatives. Clear fits right into that movement.
Chris Andrews:
Regulatory shifts vary by region – Europe might lead the US or vice versa - but globally we see a strong move toward safer, greener solutions. Clear is well-positioned for this trend.
Q: Is Clear cost-effective in the long run?
Chris Andrews:
We’re actively co-developing QUAT replacements with partners across sectors. Our approach is use less, achieve more—especially in areas where our efficacy is higher.
Todd Miller:
in many cases there’s often a sacrifice the consumer has to make. You can plug in a sustainable product or a green chemistry that doesn't work. There’s no trade-off here. Clear is sustainable, works effectively, and is cost-competitive. That’s why our partners are excited. We expect several product launches by Q4 this year.
Q: What about environmental or safety concerns around heavy metals? And how does Clear stay ahead of them?
Chris Andrews:
There’s a misconception that all heavy metals are toxic. Copper is essential for human life. Unlike silver – which essentially has the same metal functionality- or other metals, the body uses and regulates copper. We dose it minimally and precisely to avoid environmental impact. Our products have passed rigorous EPA evaluations for both efficacy and environmental safety.
But, there will be an educational element to help people understand the difference between copper as a heavy metal that is essential for our body versus other metals that our body can’t handle.
Q: How about aquatic safety and broader environmental impact?
Chris Andrews:
We’ve worked closely with the U.S. EPA and already hold five public health claims. Our formulations use minimal concentrations to prevent environmental harm. Remember, copper has been used in infrastructure for centuries in piping etc. So for centuries water and aquatic life has been moving around copper.
So when you manage it the right way, there is no untoward impact of copper to the environment.
Q: What’s the regulatory status of Cupron Clear globally?
Chris Andrews:
We’ve secured approvals in the U.S. through the EPA and are pursuing similar certifications in Europe and other regions. Some applications don’t require formal registration—such as anti-odor in personal care—so we’re entering those markets more rapidly.
Q: What’s next for Cupron?
Chris Andrews:
Our focus now is commercialization and market integration. We’ll keep innovating, but our priority is partnering with companies to embed Clear into real-world products. The global spend on biocidal solutions is in the billions. There's definitely a lot of wood to chop - taking something that's new, industrialized, proven, and now helping the market adopt it in places where they already exist.
Todd Miller:
New biocides rarely emerge due to cost and regulatory hurdles. Clear is a truly new, high-value, sustainable biocidal chemistry. We're proud to bring something new to a market that hasn’t seen real innovation in decades.
