ETRMA launches website on tire wear, particles

Brussels – The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has launched a new website to highlight industry efforts to address tire-originated microplastics in the environment.

The 'Tyre &  Road Wear' website is intended to address knowledge gaps around tire and road wear particles (TRWP) and their impact on environmental and human health, the association explained.

The website includes information about a research initiative by the TRWP platform, which was concluded earlier this month. A report on the findings will be published in the coming months.

TRWP is a multi-stakeholder platform launched by ETRMA and facilitated by the European Business Network for Corporate Social Responsibility in 2018.

The platform aims to share scientific knowledge, establish a common understanding of the possible effects of particles generated during normal tire use and wear, and co-design mitigation options.

There are also details on ETRMA-commissioned research to analyse the distribution and retention of TRWP in freshwater and saltwater environments.

The main conclusion of the study shows that 2-5% of particles generated on roads are estimated to reach estuaries, noted the website.

Calling for a “holistic approach” to address the challenge, ETRMA stresses that factors, such as driving behaviour as well as road and vehicle characteristics, could have “a much bigger influence” on the release of particles than tire design alone.