Canada funding efforts to cut tire-wear particle pollution

OTTAWA — The Canadian government is providing funding of up to C$150,000 each for three small- to medium-sized Canadian companies working on solutions to the issue of tire-derived microplastic pollution.

The funding comes from the Canadian Plastics Innovation Challenge, an initiative of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, which seeks solutions for sectors that generate some of the greatest quantities of plastic waste and pollution and/or show the greatest opportunity for impact and innovation.

In announcing the awards, Minister Steven Guilbeault noted that an estimated 6 million metric tonnes of tire-rubber wear particles (TRWP) are released into the environment annually, and they can persist for a long time and accumulate in natural habitats, potentially impacting ecosystem health.

The three companies — Applied Quantum Materials Inc., Nova Graphene Canada Inc. and Stem Punch & Die Inc. — will receive up to C$150,000 (about $110,300) each toward developing environmentally acceptable and cost-effective solutions that will help reduce the release of microplastics from tire wear in Canada.

Each of the three companies is pursuing different paths toward finding solutions to the microplastics problem:

• Applied Quantum Materials (AQM) of Edmonton, Alberta, is developing silicon-based reinforcing additives for tires to minimize microplastic release over different road and temperature conditions.

Being selected for this award "validates our plan to incorporate AQM's biomaterial additive into the manufacture of tires to improve their durability and thereby reduce the release of microplastics into the environment," CEO David Antoniuk said, noting that reducing rolling resistance is a related goal, one that will reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

• Nova Graphene Canada of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is developing a graphene-enhanced rubber that could reduce tire-wear shedding and extend the life of tires and which would provide the company an opportunity to expand its focus from defense-related projects.

"We are confident that a blend of graphenes — including our renewable, biomass-derived Carbon Era Black — will enable the formulation of a high-performance, long-lasting rubber that will wear more slowly, thereby reducing the amount of microplastics released into the environment," CEO Paul Beasant said.

• Stema Punch & Die of Cambridge, Ontario, is creating specialized compositions for tires to improve their wear and help stop the shed of microplastics.

"The focus of our solution is to create a new tire composite that will last longer, degrade slower and can replace current tire applications," Asif Khan, chief technical officer, said. "As such, we believe we can create a solution that results in a reduction in microplastic particulates while not changing the habits of our potential consumers."

The Canadian Plastics Innovation Challenges are part of the government's Innovative Solutions Canada program, which seeks solutions for sectors that generate some of the greatest quantities of plastic waste and pollution and/or show the greatest opportunity for impact and innovation.

These challenges are part of the Canadian government commitments to reduce plastic waste and pollution, while growing the economy and creating good jobs.

"Our government is committed to ending plastic waste in Canada," Guilbeult said. "We need smart innovations to create a more circular economy to recycle the plastics we consume.

"By providing funding to small- and medium-sized businesses through the Canadian Plastics Innovation Challenges, we are giving a boost to the development of technology to address plastic pollution and help move Canada toward its goal of zero plastic waste."

The funding being provided will help innovative companies thrive while providing solutions to the auto sector ecosystem to mitigate tire wear, while also contributing to Canada's transition to a "cleaner and greener future," François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry, said.

To date, the government of Canada has committed over C$24 million (about $17.6 million) to Canadian small- and medium-sized businesses to innovate and develop solutions to address plastic pollution and waste, through 17 Innovative Solutions Canada challenges.