The European Commission has updated its Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework which seeks to encourage the introduction of safer chemicals and materials.
First announced in the 2020 Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the framework seeks to provide scientists and companies with guidance on the design of chemicals and materials and their safety and sustainability assessment throughout their lifecycle.
Europe hopes this will encourage innovation in replacing hazardous substances in products and processes, for example in food-contact materials, textiles or in technology like laptops or tablets. The framework has green and sustainable chemistry and circularity by design among its guiding principles.
“The SSbD Framework aims to become a voluntary decision-making approach to steer innovation towards chemicals and materials that are safer and more sustainable over their whole life cycles,” the Commission said.
This updated framework is shaped by “extensive stakeholder engagement and real-world testing across key value chains from packaging, textiles and construction to automotive, energy, electronics, and pharmaceuticals,” it said.
The Commission added: “The revision cuts red tape while raising standards by introducing clear, streamlined assessment approaches that make safety and sustainability the default choice – not a compliance hurdle. It will benefit and empower startups and scaleups alike.”
The framework also supports the EU Chemicals Innovation and Substitution Hubs. These hubs are part of the European Chemicals Industry Action Plan, published in the middle of 2025 and described as a “business plan to secure the chemical sector’s future in Europe." The hubs seek to support companies in the creation of safer alternatives, and encourage the substitution of targeted chemicals, and this will include the promotion of the SSbD approach.
In a related move, Netherlands-based research organisation TNO is working with the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), and the government of the Netherlands to establish a national expertise centre for SSbD. The new centre will support companies producing materials, substances and products that are safer and more sustainable as well as giving the Netherlands a leading role in safe and sustainable chemistry.
TNO said that as well as guiding companies in replacing harmful substances and materials by applying SSbD within their own processes, the centre will have three main functions. First it will raise awareness of the risks of chemical substances and materials; support companies in replacing harmful substances; and provide a platform for sharing knowledge and expertise. The centre will also provide a connection between the practice and policy with a collaborative approach between industry and the practical application of SSbD methods. Support on policy issues will be provided by RIVM. The initiative is funded by the Netherlands government's Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
Acknowledging the importance of chemicals in everyday life TNO said: "These chemicals and materials also carry risks, and those risks are often discovered too late - sometimes years after a product has already entered the market, by which point replacing those harmful substances and materials with better alternatives is a major challenge. The consequences can be significant for people and for the environment alike. Companies themselves also face costly risks as a result.”
Further reading:
- PFAS to biomass: Sustainable chemicals initiative seeks big ideas for industry
- What’s driving R&D? AI, sustainability and connectivity
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