Brembo leads RE-BREATH project to cut brake-wear emissions
By Luke Willetts - 16th September 2025
Italy / Slovakia – Brake manufacturer Brembo SpA, based in Bergamo, Italy, has announced the conclusion of the RE-BREATH* (Reduction of Brake Wear Emissions in the Transport sector) project, an EU-funded initiative aimed at reducing particulate emissions from urban bus braking systems that ran from mid-2022 until 2025.
With a total budget of EUR 3.24 million, of which the European Commission’s LIFE Programme supported EUR 1.95 million, the project has seen Brembo develop “low-wear cast iron discs paired with 100% copper-free pads that were tested on bus fleets operated by Arriva in Bergamo and Bratislava, both cities identified as PM10** hotspots”. Over a 16-month trial period, the new systems reduced PM10 emissions by around 10% while also extending disc service life by up to 50% compared to original equipment and 100% compared to aftermarket solutions.
