A recent study published in Journal of Hazardous Materials compared conventional tires with tires marketed as “eco-friendly,” “sustainable,” and “green” and found no significant difference in their chemical compositions.
In short:
- The “eco-friendly” tires contained the same levels of metals, chemical compounds, and similar types of rubber as conventional tires.
- “Eco-friendly” tires actually contained higher levels of some harmful chemicals, such as 6PPD, which is known to have severely negative impacts on aquatic wildlife.
Key quote:
“Without a complete knowledge on the variability of these compounds in commercial tires, a thorough control over the risk posed by [tire road wear particles] to the environment and human health will not be possible.”
Why this matters:
Plastic particles released by tires are one of the primary sources of microplastics pollution, with previous studies detecting them in the air, soil, rivers, and marine environments. While some green tires do tout improvements like lower fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emission during manufacturing, the results of this study highlight the need to consider chemical makeup as a key driver of environmental impact in order to meaningfully reduce harm from tire particle pollution.
Related EHN coverage:
- Car tire chemicals are killing salmon and steelhead
- Pete Myers: The plastic road to hell is paved with good intentions
More resources:
A Plastic Planet provides resources for consumers and businesses to explore ways to support a solutions-focused approach to the plastic crisis. Their PlasticFree platform connects the global design community with leaders in plastic-free materials and systems to help encourage innovation.
Rødland, Elisabeth et al. for Journal of Hazardous Materials vol. 476. Sept. 5, 2024
