Earlier this month, a product designed by students to reduce the amount of microplastic air pollution caused by car tyres has won the 2020 UK James Dyson Award.
Globally,Ā
it is estimatedĀ that tyre-wear accounts for nearly half of road transport particulate emissions. It is also thought to be the 2nd largest microplastic pollutant in our oceans after single-use plastic.
The
Tyre Collective ā Siobhan Anderson, Hanson Cheng, M Deepak Mallaya, and Hugo Richardson āĀ are students on the innovation design masters programme run jointly by Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art.
Together they have designed the device which fits onto each wheel of a car and collects microscopic particles created when vehicles brake, accelerate or turn.
Using a retro-fitted collection device, the team claims to be able to collect 60% of all airborne particles from tyres.
It could really be a revolutionary piece of manufacturing. Not only can the device stems pollution at the source but the design students claim that the particles collected can be used to create new tyres, 3D printing and dies, creating a close loop system.
The Tyre Collective are currently negotiating a joint development partnership with a global car manufacturer and research partnerships with two major tyre producers.Ā
Also, the device they have created could be used by TFL before 2030.
