Designing safer and more sustainable chemicals and materials: a methodological guidance

Image of a scientist in a lab — © EU, 2024

Among the actions of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS), the framework for Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) aims to steer innovation of chemicals and materials toward safer and more sustainable alternatives. The methodological guidance report, compiled by the JRC, describes how to perform such assessment in the initial phase of development.

It is addressed to professionals wishing to apply the SSbD framework during the R&I process to develop new chemicals or materials, or to improve the existing ones. The report offers instructions to perform safety and sustainability assessment in the (re)design phase of chemicals or materials and support decision-making. Practitioners can share feedback through a dedicated EUsurvey form.

Structure of the SSbD framework

The SSbD framework has two components. The first is a (re)design phase, based on general SSbD design principles, which come from existing concepts, such as green chemistry, green engineering, sustainable chemistry and circularity. The second is a four-step assessment phase, with an optional socio-economic consideration. Its application is voluntary, and it can be a tool that helps to meet regulatory needs, such as the search for alternatives for substances.

The implementation of the SSbD framework is iterative along the innovation process of the chemical or material, following a gradual increase of data availability and research knowledge. The framework foresees the assessment of the chemical/material along its entire life cycle. There is no strict order in the assessment of the four steps, but flexibility is left to the innovators based on their priorities, and data. Nevertheless, the comprehensive assessment of safety and sustainability is recommended along the (re)design phase.

Graph overview of the SSbD framework — Source: own elaboration

Content of the methodological guidance

The main goal of the guidance is to provide explanations and examples, and to present possible actions to address some of the challenges raised by stakeholders. The guidance provides some FAQs plus an additional scoping analysis to define the SSbD study. This scoping analysis includes a list of information that the innovator might collect to define the chemical/material, the (re)design aspects, and maturity of the innovation itself.

Lack of data or research knowledge at the early stage of the (re)design of chemicals or materials hampers the possibility to perform a comprehensive assessment of safety and sustainability aspect. The guidance provides instructions to perform a tiered assessment of safety and sustainability aspects, from a simplified to a full assessment. Such approach would guarantee early assessment and help to identify hot-spots in the (re)design which will further improve the (re)design itself.

Graph overal structure of the three main levels of the SSbD assessment — Overall structure of the iterative and tiered approach of the SSbD framework along the chemical/material innovation, following the technology readiness level (TRL).
Source: own elaboration

What’s next? Info for innovators

Use the EUSurvey form to share your experience in testing the framework with the help of the methodological guidance. Let us know the challenges you encountered and your suggestions to improve the framework. All ideas are welcome, and they will be considered for the next revision of the methodological guidance. The survey is open until the end of August 2024.

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