Copper-Free Brake Initiative

On January 21, 2015, EPA, states, and the automotive industry signed an agreement to reduce the use of copper and other materials in motor vehicle brake pads. The agreement calls for reducing copper in brake pads to < 5 percent by weight in 2021 and 0.5 percent by 2025. In addition to copper, this voluntary initiative reduces mercury, lead, cadmium, asbestiform fibers, and chromium-six salts in motor vehicle brake pads.

The Initiative will decrease runoff of these materials from roads into the nation’s streams, rivers, and lakes. Copper from stormwater runoff can affect fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and plants.

• Memorandum of Understanding on Copper Mitigation in Watershed and Waterways - Copper-free brake pad agreement between EPA, states, and automotive industry representatives

This initiative includes:

• education and outreach to bring about the nationwide reduction in brake pads of copper and the other materials,
• testing friction materials and constituents for alternatives,
• marking and labeling friction material packaging and product,
• providing reporting registrars’ and agents’ contact information to manufacturers, suppliers and other industry entities, and
• working towards achieving the goals in the copper-free brake Initiative within specified timeframes.

Video: Putting the Brakes on Water Pollution: A Story of Industry and Government Collaboration for Copper-Free Brakes

This webinar, held on October 6, 2021, explores how this voluntary initiative and these partnerships developed, the roles of the signatories, and the progress made so far. Speakers highlight lessons learned and considerations for organizations considering future voluntary source control partnerships.

• Rachel Urban, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Laurie Holmes, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association
• Leigh Merino, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association
• Aaron Lowe, AutoCare Association
• Don Welsh, Environmental Council of the States

Numbers on Copper Reductions

California and Washington already passed requirements to reduce these materials in brake pads.

• California requirements , including reporting registrars/agents
• Washington requirements, including reporting registrars/agents

Prior to these requirements, fine dust from vehicular braking released an estimated 1.3 million pounds of copper into California’s environment in 2010 and about 250,000 pounds into Washington’s environment in 2011. Estimates for California show as much as a 61 percent reduction of copper in urban runoff due to changes in brake pad composition.

Co-Signers

In addition to EPA, the Environmental Council of the States, and eight industry groups signed the initiative:

• Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association,
• Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association,
• Brake Manufacturers Council,
• Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association,
• Auto Care Association,
• Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers,
• Association of Global Automakers, Inc., and
• Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association.

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