Wear of the elements of the brake friction pair and particle emission caused by the operation of the brakes (non-exhaust emissions) is one of the biggest polluters of the environment from traffic and a problem that needs to be solved in the coming period. The brake pads are made of a mixture of different materials that ensure the longevity and efficiency of the brake system. The applied materials have different wear intensities in certain operating conditions, but wear is influenced by different factors that have been analyzed by other authors in their research. An overview of materials in brake pads, as well as their influence on wear and non-exhaust emission based on modern research is performed in this paper.