When you think of tyres and environmental issues, what comes to mind?
Perhaps emissions from burning tyres? Or the land used to produce the rubber for tyres?
But what if I told you that tyres could be harming our food chain? Wait... What?
Let’s take it from the top, shall we?
The number one raw material for tyres is rubber, which makes up 20-40% of their weight. Tyre manufacturers worldwide consume a whopping 70% of all natural rubber!
Recently, however, rubber prices have been on a rollercoaster ride. Supply took a hit when Thailand and Indonesia—two of the world’s largest producers—faced unexpected drops in production. Poor weather in these regions disrupted supply chains, making it challenging to meet the rising demand.
Adding to this, delays in shipping Technical Specified Rubber (TSR)—a special type of processed rubber from Africa’s Ivory Coast—due to logistical issues in the Red Sea, and fluctuating domestic rubber prices have forced tyre manufacturers to think outside the box.
For instance, Apollo Tyres is exploring sustainable materials to cut costs while meeting India’s growing demand for tyres. After all, India became the world’s third-largest automobile market by vehicle sales in 2023, surpassing Japan.
While investing in R&D to develop bio-based, innovative materials for tyre production, they’re also considering recycling rubber from old, scrapped tyres. By doing this, they not only fulfill sustainability goals but also mitigate the risks of volatile natural rubber prices.
It’s a classic case of hitting two birds with one stone!
“How thoughtful of these tyre companies,” you might think. “They’re not just cutting costs but also considering the environment.”
But are they really? Because one thing tyres will always do is roll. And as they roll, they produce something called tyre and road wear particles (TRWPs)—tiny bits of rubber released when tyres rub against the road.
Each year, tyres release a staggering 6 million tonnes of TRWPs. To put it into perspective, these particles are typically around 100 micrometres long—about the width of a human hair. This makes them the second-largest source of microplastic pollution, right after single-use plastics.
While the environmental impact of TRWPs is still under debate, the effects of 6PPD—a chemical added to tyres to prevent degradation—are a proven concern. In 2020, researchers at the University of Washington discovered that when 6PPD breaks down, it can pose serious threats to organisms. For example, it has been linked to mass die-offs of coho salmon in Seattle and is toxic to other fish species like rainbow trout, Arctic char, and white sturgeon.
An even bigger issue is that tyre particles containing 6PPD can spread to farmland through sewage sludge, wind, or wastewater. These pollutants can end up in crops, potentially entering our food chain and posing risks to human health.
So, merely using recycled rubber isn’t enough if tyre manufacturers truly aim to go green. They need to do more. Specifically, they need to focus on reducing rolling resistance. This has two benefits: it decreases TRWPs in the air and improves fuel efficiency.
But that still doesn’t solve the issue of reducing 6PPD emissions.
This is especially challenging because reducing 6PPD would mean creating tyres that wear out much faster. In fact, without 6PPD, tyres could fail after just 160 to 1,600 km of use. For context, the average tyre lasts about five years or 50,000 km, whichever comes first.
Some European companies are exploring alternatives to 6PPD. For example, Finland’s Nokian Tyres is working on solutions to maintain tyre durability while rethinking tyre manufacturing. Meanwhile, German chemical firm Lanxess is developing chemicals that replicate the benefits of 6PPD. But these advancements are far from simple.
And that, is how tyres can harm our food chain!
Comments