When it comes to pollution and the environmental concerns linked to driving, it’s not just the vehicle engine and release of carbon emissions that we need to be concerned about. As one of the most crucial components of any vehicle, tyres come with their own collection of environmental issues - starting with the production process and extending into regular use and road wear.
In this blog, we’re sharing some of the main issues and concerns around tyre pollution and the impact of tyres on the environment - starting with production and sourcing.
Tyre Production and its Environmental Impact
You need only browse our diverse and extensive collection of available tyres, from a wide array of brands, to see that tyre production is big business. Millions of new tyres are produced every year - and that means millions of tyres are also discarded every year.
While the industry is taking steps towards becoming more sustainable both in its raw material sourcing and tyre recycling schemes, the reality is that producing tyres creates byproducts that can cause harm to the environment.
What’s more, when tyres are discarded or no longer in use on the road, they are complex and difficult to dispose of. Some of the best uses include cutting tyres down into tiny particles to create rubber playground and pitch surfaces and using tyres as they are for outdoor structures in gardens and on farms. But even these uses do not avoid the pollutants that rubber is constantly releasing into our environment - unseen but causing untold damage. Which is where the connection between tyres, tyre wear, and the release of microplastics comes into play.
The Pollutant Link Between Tyres and Microplastics
The conversation around microplastics and their presence in our world seems to be growing and becoming more prolific by the day. However, when linked to tyres, they fall under a different name - Tyre Wear Particles (or TWPs for short).
These TWPs are, believe it or not, released by tyres as they drive. They are shed in such tiny particles that you don’t see them, but they exist in our air and are polluting both our bodies and our natural world.
The impact of these particles can be huge, with some of the following reported results from the release of TWPs:
- TWPs are breathed in by those who live close to densely populated areas with high traffic levels
- TWPs settle into the soil and alter its properties, including its ability to house crucial organisms and microbes
- Around 5-10% of the plastic in our oceans derives from tyre wear and comes from these TWPs
TWPs are often noted by scientists as representing pollution sponges - that is, they soak up and hold all sorts of nasties including pesticides and harmful bacteria, re-releasing it into the environment.
Suffice to say, TWPs get everywhere - and their impact is widespread. But are they dangerous for us?
