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Life Cycle Assessment
During 2000 and part of 2001, BLIC (previous European structure of the tyre and rubber industry) made a full Life Cycle Assessment
study (LCA) of a representative European 195/65 R15 passenger car tyre
(summer H rated new carbon black and silica based tread tyres). This
study related purely to car tyres, and did not include truck tyres
analysis, although such a study is planned for the future.
A well-established and prominent external LCA practitioner, PRé
Consultants of the Netherlands, was commissioned to perform the actual
LCA study, which was then critically reviewed by another prestigious
LCA specialist, CIT Ekologik, part of the Swedish Chalmers
Industriteknik group.
In the first part, the LCA report showed the current environmental
load from an average car tyre throughout the life cycle in the
European Union. In the second part, the LCA study provided insight for
tyre manufacturers into the possibilities for improvement of
environmental performance of car tyres.
Two versions of the H rated summer car tyre 195/65 R15 were analysed:
- a version with a traditional tread with carbon black as a
filler, and
- a version in which the carbon black in the tread was partly
replaced by a silica compound
The main findings relating to environmental impacts throughout a car
tread’s life cycle show:
- The use phase makes the highest contribution to the
environmental load.
- The most important aspect during the use phase is the fuel
consumption that can be attributed to the rolling resistance.
- That over the life cycle, silica model car tyres make a lower
environmental impact than those with a traditional tread, having
carbon black as a filler. The main difference between the two
versions related to the rolling resistance level in the use phase.
- Car tyre/road contact noise is potentially an important aspect,
but its specific magnitude cannot yet be determined.
- Car tyre debris emitted during the use phase contributes a
relatively modest amount to the overall life cycle compared with
fuel consumption induced by the rolling resistance phenomena, and
lower than the car tyre’s contribution to engine exhaust emissions.
- The average end-of-life scenario makes a relatively small
contribution to the overall load of the life cycle.
A significant point from the LCA is that the global magnitude of these
environmental impacts during the use phase can be largely influenced
by external factors, such as driver behaviour. The tyre producers
understand that they need to address this aspect as well, and will
increase efforts towards a better education of consumers.
For more request
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