Tools & resources

SSbD Knowledge Sharing Portal

Tools for SSbD
Introduction

PARC aims to support the implementation of the EC SSbD framework by creating an SSbD toolbox which will facilitate its practical application via the integration of tools (i.e. models, methods, data, but also processing algorithms and databases) relevant for the different aspects of SSbD, together with guidance to support the entire SSbD process. This space provides initial information on the PARC SSbD toolbox as well as relevant links.

Building of the PARC SSbD toolbox

A key element of the PARC SSbD approach is the development of a toolbox to provide the necessary tools for addressing the different parts of assessment of the EC SSbD framework, finally including chemical safety, environmental sustainability and socio-economic aspects. PARC focuses on:

  • Establishing a good working infrastructure for potential users

Gathering input from and working with industry, academia, and the regulatory community is key to both the development of the toolbox and the reflection on the practical aspects of making SSbD operational. Stakeholder perspectives will inform how safety and sustainability assessments can be best integrated in the development and re-design of chemicals, materials, and products, and translated into toolbox features, interfaces and workflows as well as the development of new tools.

  • Establishing collaborations on specific toolbox needs

The development of a toolbox requires a co-creation approach ensuring that the toolbox will address identified challenges connected to the SSbD assessment and facilitate the practical application. For this, a restricted testing phase with limited stakeholder numbers was executed, allowing to test the different key functionalities in a version 0.1 of the toolbox.  

  • Dissemination of the SSbD toolbox

The development of information material, guidance documents, workshops and hands on training (e.g. the 2nd SSbD bootcamp ↗ jointly organised by JRC and PARC) to support the development of the PARC toolbox and to further support the operationalisation of the SSbD framework is essential to achieve the PARC SSbD objectives.

SSbD toolbox development 

The SSbD toolbox that is developed within PARC features a structured collection of tools, functionally connected, that can be used to address the different parts of assessment of the EC SSbD framework in an appropriate and reliable way. It will serve as an important tool to support the EU’s Green Deal ambitions, including the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS), by aiding in assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials throughout their entire life cycle. Its scope covers various aspects of SSbD assessment throughout the life cycle, including chemical safety, product sustainability considerations - such as environmental life cycle assessment (E-LCA), economic evaluation through life cycle costing (LCC) and social life cycle assessment (S-LCA). Furthermore, the toolbox considers the varying levels of data availability and needs depending on the stage of innovation of the assessed chemical or material by structuring the tools according to the stage gate innovation approach. By that, the toolbox supports designers, developers, and risk assessors of chemicals and materials in industry, academia and governments in applying and assessing SSbD based on their individual needs.  

Key functionalities of the toolbox include:

  • The collation of tools for SSbD assessment, aligned with the structure of the EC SSbD framework and the stage-gate model of innovation, will be continuously updated as new relevant tools become available.
  • Links to databases which can be deduced to retrieve necessary data for the assessment.
  • The SSbD Wizard: a user-guided interface that generates tailored SSbD assessment workflows and assists the user through the assessment process.
  • The PARC SSbD Guidebook which explains how to use the toolbox and gives insights into the embedded tools and is currently available for version 0.1 of the toolbox. For more information on the content of the toolbox, the development approach and the timetable, please see the information leaflet.
  • The evaluation and scoring system supports the decision-making process by converting the outcomes of each part of the SSbD assessment into scores. This system will be replaced by an integrated Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methodology.

All elements of the toolbox will be further updated and become more elaborate as part of the continuous development of the toolbox. An alpha version is available by July 2025. A direct link to the compilation of tools as well as a list of databases relevant for SSbD can also be found.

SSbD toolbox for KSP
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SSbD toolbox: Case studies

PARC aims to explore different applications of SSbD and to test the methodology recommended in the EC SSbD framework and to faciliate the development of the toolbox. Therefore, within PARC, use cases are executed to provide scientific and technical support to develop and improve the SSbD toolbox.  

  • Identification and establishment of relevant use cases

PARC intends to supplement existing case studies applying the EC SSbD framework. To this purpose, a survey of existing Safe by Design (SbD) and SSbD case studies and projects has been executed within the PARC Consortium. Detailed survey results on the current utilisation of the EC SSbD framework in case studies among the scientific community of PARC can be found here ↗. Additionally, PARC reaches out to external case studies, establishing cooperation and sharing experiences.

  • Testing the applicability of the EC SSbD  framework and the toolbox

Case studies executed within PARC, but also beyond provide valuable inputs on barriers and incentives for SSbD implementation in the value chain. Lessons learned from the use cases in PARC employing the toolbox will shape future versions of the toolbox, improving its completeness, feasibility and logic operation.