Microplastic-Capturing Tire Devices

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.

Image Credit: Dezeen