Geneva, 17 March 2021: The Tire Industry Project (TIP) has contributed to an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report that aims to help bridge the gap that could arise between suitable health and environmental risk assessment tools and frameworks, and the rapid innovation of nanotechnologies.
TIP coordinated the production of an annex to the report that focuses on the work of TIP members to improve understanding of the potential health and environmental impacts of nanomaterials used in tire manufacturing. The annex also suggests approaches that can further industry efforts toward safer and more sustainable use of nanomaterials.
Nanomaterials present opportunities for innovation in tire manufacturing that can help improve the sustainability and resource efficiency of both the tire industry and the transport sector. They have been used in tires to improve fuel consumption and CO2 emissions through a reduction of tire rolling resistance, and to improve wear resistance whilst maintaining traction.
The report – “Moving Towards a Safe(r) Innovation Approach (SIA) for More Sustainable Nanomaterials and Nano-enabled Products” – is the latest in an OECD series* on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials. TIP contributed to the report via the OECD’s Business and Industry Advisor Committee (BIAC), building on collaboration that saw publication of the 2014 OECD report – “Nanotechnology and Tyres: Greening Industry and Transport”.
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*The report “Moving Towards a Safe(r) Innovation Approach (SIA) for More Sustainable Nanomaterials and Nano-enabled Products” is publication number 96 in the OECD series on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials. The series is available via this link.
