Safe and sustainable by design in PARC

Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) of chemicals and materials is the key prevention approach that guides and fosters innovation in such a way that it supports competitiveness and incorporates fundamental and longstanding societal benefits such as safety and sustainability. SSbD, originating from the EU’s Green Deal and its executive Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability ↗, is now firmly linked to the Clean Industrial Deal (CID) and the Chemicals Industry Action Plan (CIAP).

SSbD is a strategic innovation approach to develop and evaluate new chemicals and materials and evaluate existing ones, keeping in mind the functionality and minimizing negative impacts on human health and the environment. The EC developed a framework ↗ to assess if a chemical substance or material can be considered SSbD. The EC SSbD framework provides an approach ↗ (supplemented by a methodological guidance ↗) on how to address hazard, risks, environmental impacts and socioeconomic impacts.

PARC aims to support the operationalization of the SSbD framework developed by the EC using four interlinked sets of activities:

Operationalization of the EC SSbD framework
Toolbox development
Toolbox operationalization by use cases
Knowledge sharing and education

Operationalization of the EC SSbD framework

PARC aims to bridge the gap between policy goals and safety and sustainability assessment tools by contextualizing SSbD in innovation practice. Successful real-world operationalization of SSbD requires a focus on case specific details and effective coordination between a variety of actors (i.e. innovators, value chain actors, safety and sustainability experts and regulators). PARC activities on SSbD operationalization focus on:

Establishing a good working infrastructure with potential users

Acquiring input from and work with industry, academia and regulatory community is key to both the toolbox-development and reflecting on the practical aspects of making SSbD operational. Stakeholder perspectives will feed into on how safety and sustainability assessments can be best integrated in new chemicals and materials development, and translated into toolbox features, interface and workflows as well as new tool development.

Establishing PARC wide collaborations on specific toolbox needs

Developing a toolbox involves the need for bespoke working groups on specific integrative topics (e.g. FAIR data implementation, interplay of regulation and voluntary SSbD, value of NAMs for SSbD). PARC will coordinate and link relevant topics to the SSbD toolbox and into practice.

Developing a process view of SSbD

The application of SSbD is complex and case specific, and proper contextualization of an SSbD problem is critical. PARC works together with sector experts from research and industry to develop a process-based approach to SSbD problem formulation that extracts key questions and criteria to drive assessment and re-design.

Positioning the PARC SSbD activities

Developing information material, guidance documents, workshops and lectures to support the implementation of the PARC toolbox and to further support SSbD operationalization will help address the PARC SSbD goals.

Toolbox development

The SSbD toolbox being developed within PARC will, in time, provide the guidance and the necessary tools (including models, methods, data processing algorithms and databases) for the operationalization of the EC SSbD framework. By that it will serve as important tool in supporting the Chemicals Industry Action Plan (CIAP) and EU Green Deal ambition including the Chemical Strategy for Sustainability by providing assistance to assess the safety and sustainability of chemicals throughout their entire life cycle. The PARC SSbD toolbox is designed to be an inclusive platform, suitable for both newly developed and existing substances and different types of sectors. It will provide not only a living collection of tools for the implementation of the SSbD framework, but also functional tool integrations and workflows, considering the different stages across the innovation process. Its scope covers inter alia chemical safety over the life cycle, product sustainability aspects (including environmental life cycle assessment (E-LCA), economic (Life Cycle Costing-LCC), social life cycle assessment methodologies (S-LCA)) and functionality of chemicals in a product. By that, it aims to function as an integrative innovation system for designers, developers, and risk assessors of chemicals and materials from industry, academia and governments in applying and assessing SSbD of chemicals and materials. The toolbox will be designed in such a way that it enables (re-)design and assessment at the different stages of the innovation process. The alpha version of the PARC SSbD toolbox is now available.

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To try out the toolbox, simply create an account. We welcome your feedback directly through the platform to help guide its ongoing development.

Toolbox operationalization by use cases

This activity provides scientific and technical support to develop and improve the SSbD toolbox that aims to support SSbD chemicals and materials, to guide the integration of safety, sustainability, and circularity principles early in the innovation and design phases.

The activity focuses on:

Identifying and setting up relevant use cases

PARC aims to explore different types of applications of SSbD and to test the methodology recommended by the EC and the toolbox. To this purpose, a survey of existing Safe by Design (SbD) and SSbD use cases and projects has been developed and shared with all the PARC Consortium. A dedicated case study on BPA and alternatives has been carried out to test tools for all SSbD steps, in particular for assessments in early innovation phases. Additionally, we are reaching out and setting up collaboration with selected relevant external use cases and gaining experience by inviting case study operators to joint webinars.

Testing the applicability of the EC SSbD criteria and methodology

This task is supported by the engagement of relevant stakeholders that are involved in use cases able to provide inputs on barriers and incentives for SSbD implementation in the value chain.

Developing an inventory of relevant indicators

This will be useful to follow the progresses of the toolbox applicability. This inventory will be aligned to EC initiatives, including the indicator program ↗ foreseen by the European Environment Agency.

Knowledge sharing and education as key factors for efficient SSbD operationalisation

Promoting a mindset about safety and sustainability is key to successfully implement SSbD in the innovation process and to bring it to a high level of acceptance. Researchers involved in innovation, industry professionals and other stakeholders can stay up to date on the latest research and best practices in SSbD of chemicals and materials through knowledge sharing and training. By providing (future) innovators with a comprehensive education in their field of studies, they can develop the necessary skills, knowledge and attitude to drive positive change within the industry. Therefore, part of PARC´s engagement regarding SSbD is the development of a knowledge sharing portal which provides a place for sharing information on data, tools and guidance (developed inside and outside of PARC), delivers news on progress and initiatives with regard to SSbD as well as relevant exchange with the SSbD community. The portal is also used as a basis to provide SSbD training and education materials.

Tools & resources