26 Nov 2025

Vehicle tyres making up majority of microplastics in the ocean

From Checkpoint, 5:28 pm on 26 November 2025

Tiny parts of vehicle tyres are making up the majority of the microplastic in our ocean, according to marine scientists. They have been looking at tyre particles on roadsides and in storm water in Auckland and say almost half the rubber that sheds on our roads ends up in our environment. The vehicles contributing most to the problem are both EVs and Utes. Marine microplastics researcher at the University of Auckland, Dr Samantha Ladewig spoke to Lisa Owen.