Bridging Science and Industrial Innovation: Implementation of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) Framework in the Development of Alternatives to Substances of Concern (SoC)
Authors: Isigonis, Panagiotis
Type: Poster
Published: 2026-05-17
Keywords: SSbD, SoCs

<p>This poster sets out how the DESIDERATA project implements the EU Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework to develop alternatives to Substances of Concern, and how it moves those alternatives towards safe and sustainable market uptake. It presents an integrated pathway running from the development of safer alternatives, through SSbD implementation, FAIR data production, interoperability, stronger value chains, and a trusted environment for data sharing, to the adoption of sustainable innovations on the market.</p>
<p>The background frames the work within the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, which calls for identifying and minimising Substances of Concern and for developing safer, sustainable alternatives that support environmental protection and supply chain resilience. In response, the European Commission introduced the SSbD framework to steer the development of innovative chemicals and materials, and DESIDERATA addresses the gap between that framework and its practical application in industry.</p>
<p>The project applies the framework across five industrial use cases: graphene in the lubricant and metalworking sector (UC1, GXT), targeting medium chain chlorinated paraffins; halogen free flame retardant thermoplastic compounds for injection moulding in electrical and electronics (UC2, LATI), targeting halogenated flame retardants and antimony trioxide; PFAS free, graphene based flame retardant thermoplastic compounds for additive manufacturing (UC3, LATI), targeting PTFE; graphene as a plasticiser in polymer coatings (UC4, GXT), targeting PTFE; and inorganic polymers with surfactant properties as insulation materials in construction (UC5, MONO), targeting aluminium powders.</p>
<p>The SSbD assessment plan operationalises the framework through an iterative development, implementation, and refinement plan for each use case. Guiding principles set system boundaries, SSbD goals, and degrees of design freedom, establish case specific contexts and actors across the value chain, and identify regulatory and compliance challenges such as REACH, CLP, and EcoLabel, aligning SSbD with innovation and business models. Application of the framework integrates tiered hazard and sustainability assessments across the full life cycle with benchmarking against conventional processes, uses trade off assessments for validation, and addresses data gaps, data quality, and uncertainty through multi criteria decision analysis. The plan also evaluates the barriers and enablers met during implementation.</p>
<p>The methodology and consortium section maps the material flow from raw material through synthesis, processing, and final product, alongside the SSbD and innovation management activities and the partner organisations that deliver them. The poster concludes that the integrated DESIDERATA approach aims to ensure regulatory alignment, improve practical applicability, and support systemic transitions towards safer, more sustainable materials.</p>