Nanomaterials could make tyres more sustainable

According to a report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the use of new nanomaterials in tyre production could help foster the sustainability of the tyre industry and reduce the environmental impact of vehicles - so long as the potential environmental, health and safety risks of the technology are managed carefully.

The report ‘Nanotechnology and Tyres: Greening Industry and Transport’ highlights the potential of new nanomaterials while analysing the challenges for their safe and sustainable introduction in the tyre industry. The report was originally proposed and supported by the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC) through the Tire Industry Project (TIP) of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

New nanomaterials offer avenues for future innovation which could contribute to the sustainability and resource efficiency of the tyre industry and of the transport sector. They have the potential to decrease tyre rolling resistance (improving fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions) and lower wear resistance (increasing tyre lifetime) while maintaining wet grip and existing safety levels.

Yet there is need for a supporting framework and relevant tools to guide decision-making in assessing the economic, social and ecological impacts of the introduction of new nanomaterials in tyre production. In particular, the development of industry-specific guidance to assess the environmental, health and safety risks at various stages of products’ development is critical.

The report provides a risk management framework to enable site-specific or company-specific assessments and the development of risk-management strategies for using nanomaterials as additives in tyres. It also provides insights into the status of nanotechnology innovation and the drivers of innovation in the tyre industry; the economic and social costs as well as benefits of using nanotechnology in tyres; the safe use of new nanomaterials at all stages of their life cycles; the identification of the tools and frameworks supporting decision-making at various stages of product development; and the facilitation of outreach and knowledge transfer on the safe use of new nanomaterials.

The report calls for policy action to support research and the commercialisation of nanotechnology research results for fostering responsible innovation in the tyre sector. It also emphasises the importance of collaboration between governments and industry to address the specific challenges raised by the introduction of new nanomaterials in different industry sectors.

Philippe Fonta, the managing director of the TIP, welcomed the report, saying it “sets the basis for the safe and responsible introduction of these promising technologies while taking full consideration of their socio-economic and environmental impacts”.

The report can be read here.