Deadline Date: April 14, 2026
The European Commission has launched a new research and innovation initiative to tackle non-exhaust particulate emissions from road and rail transport, a growing concern as electrification reduces tailpipe emissions but leaves particles from brake, tyre, and track wear increasingly significant.
The program aims to advance methods, tools, and technologies to better measure, simulate, and validate the release of these pollutants into the environment and assess their impact on human health, terrestrial ecosystems, aquatic systems, and biodiversity, with particular focus on microplastics and other heavy non-airborne particles.
With a total budget of €7.5 million and individual project funding expected between €3.5 and €4 million, the program represents a significant investment in understanding and mitigating non-exhaust particulate emissions. By improving knowledge, developing technologies, and providing practical mitigation strategies, the initiative aims to support the EU’s long-term objectives for sustainable, competitive, and environmentally responsible transport.
The project will generate improved emission factors for inventories and projections, including contributions to the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP), addressing gaps in knowledge about resuspension and other non-exhaust sources. Researchers will also develop recommendations and mitigation strategies, including key performance indicators and cost-benefit analyses to evaluate the economic and practical feasibility of controlling these emissions.
Non-exhaust emissions (NEEs) stem from multiple sources, including tyre and brake wear, pantograph-catenary contact, wheel-rail friction, road surface degradation, and resuspension of dust. Their composition and environmental dispersion vary widely depending on vehicle type, road or rail conditions, driving behavior, and materials used, but current data are fragmented and limited. Understanding NEEs is crucial not only for air quality but also for assessing their effects on soil, water, ecosystems, and biodiversity.
The initiative will explore a full range of research and innovation actions. These include developing methods for source segregation and identification, assessing influencing parameters across urban, rural, and motorway contexts, and advancing standardized and real-time emission measurement techniques. Downstream effects, including particle deposition, decomposition, and dispersion, will be studied, alongside health impact estimates and long-term exposure effects, with attention to gender-disaggregated and intersectional data.
Mitigation strategies will target state-of-the-art systems such as advanced brake and tyre designs, optimized road and track surfaces, vehicle-lightweight technologies, and improved drainage and containment systems. Rail-specific innovations may include low-wear mechanical interfaces and track improvements. Life-cycle assessments will inform sustainability and environmental impacts, while recommendations will support standardization and regulatory frameworks to enhance industrial competitiveness.
This initiative contributes to the EU Strategic Plan’s goals for a green and digital transition and a resilient, competitive, and inclusive Europe. By addressing non-exhaust emissions, it complements efforts in zero-emission road transport, aviation, and waterborne transport, promoting sustainable mobility solutions that reduce pollution, protect human health, and safeguard ecosystems.
For more information, visit European Commission.
