The Tyre Collective—a British start-up—has quite possibly revolutionized the act of capturing microplastic emissions from tires. The patent-pending technology has been awarded the 2020 UK national James Dyson Award.
The Tyre Collective addresses the problem of "the unseen synthetic rubber particles expelled by car tires," which contributes to pollution and account for more than half of all particle emissions created by vehicles. The innovative solution "can be suspended from each wheel's steering knuckle, just above where the tire meets the road, to capture the microplastic fragments released through friction every time the car brakes, accelerates or turns a corner."
The rubber particles will be stored in a removable cartridge and by the Tyre Collective's estimation, it will have to be emptied around once a month.
Microplastic-Capturing Tire Devices
The Tyre Collective's Device can be Mounted on Cars
Trend Themes
1. Microplastic Capture - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced technologies to capture and remove microplastics from various sources, including tires.
2. Sustainable Automotive Solutions - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore and develop eco-friendly technologies and practices for automobiles to reduce pollution and environmental impact.
3. Circular Economy Initiatives - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create innovative systems to recycle and repurpose waste materials, such as captured microplastics, to promote a circular economy.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with tire manufacturers and automotive companies to integrate microplastic capture devices into vehicles and address pollution concerns.
2. Environmental Services - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Offer specialized services for the collection, treatment, and proper disposal of microplastics and other pollutants to support environmental sustainability.
3. Waste Management - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop efficient waste management systems and technologies to handle and repurpose collected microplastics and other waste materials.