Why the legislation?

Every time you press the brake pedal, a small amount of copper is deposited onto the road. When it rains, this is washed into nearby streams and rivers. With millions of drivers using their brakes day in, day out, it is estimated that brake pads account for up to half of the copper entering water systems in urban areas. And with copper known to be very toxic to aquatic life, this can cause significant damage to the environment.

Green is in our DNA.

For more than a century, Delphi has developed innovative OE automotive technologies that help keep passengers safe, green and connected. We apply these very same principles to everything we do. Be it new vehicle technologies or our extensive range of aftermarket product. So, naturally we’re keen to help protect the environment against the impact of copper too. And we have. Already. Years ahead of legislation.

What have we changed?

When it comes to braking, copper is intrinsically difficult to replace, as it acts as both an abrasive and lubricant in the friction mix. Yet, we’ve re-engineered our entire friction formula to reduce copper content to no more than 0.5%. Better still, we’ve achieved all this without compromising on vehicle performance or safety - our new and improved formulation offers better fade performance and retains all its life, without compromising noise control or heat dissipation.  

Why this matters to you!

We all know safety, and even price, are important considerations when it comes choosing which brake pads to fit. But there are other factors too. The introduction of premium, environmentally friendly copper-free brake pads is yet another reason, in an ever-growing list, of why you should choose Delphi for braking.

Look out for the ‘leaf symbol’ on our packaging labels for low copper content pads.