Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD)

What is the SSbD concept?

Safe and Sustainable by Design is a new approach that aims to ensure that chemicals, materials, and products are safe and sustainable from the start. This concept goes beyond simple regulatory compliance, promoting a culture of responsible and innovative design.

The main goal is to integrate safety, sustainability, and efficiency into every stage of design, improving human health and safety while reducing environmental impact from the earliest phases of innovation.

This perspective focuses on assessing the entire life cycle, with particular attention to the design phase among other key aspects, although it can also be applied at any stage of innovation The SSbD approach encourages comparing a product not only by its chemical structure or physicochemical properties but also within the context of its final use, helping to avoid substitutions that may also prove harmful in their end applications.

How to Apply the SSbD Approach?

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission has developed an SSbD implementation framework that guides companies and institutions in defining evaluation criteria and procedures. The objective of the SSbD framework is to promote innovation and applied science, serving as a guide for research and development activities and aimed at both companies and other actors within the innovation ecosystem.

In addition, the framework establishes specific criteria for chemicals, materials or products that contribute to achieving the goals set out in the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. To apply this SSbD approach, JRC proposes in the framework, a structured process divided into five main steps:

The SSbD Approach at ProtoQSAR integrates the principles of SSbD into its research and development activities, promoting innovation that aligns with environmental and human safety goals. In projects such as SUBBIMATT (Grant Agreement Nº 101129911) and, DECORIS (INNTA2/2024/2), ProtoQSAR approaches SSbD from multiple angles, developing tailored SSbD assessment workflows and applying advanced computational methods, including in-house QSAR models and data mining techniques, to generate high-quality data. This data helps identify and prioritising substances with improved safety and sustainability profiles, supporting both regulatory compliance and innovation. By applying its computational expertise within the SSbD framework, ProtoQSAR contributes to the development of more efficient design strategies that accelerate the transition toward a greener and more responsible future.

Why adopt Safe and Sustainable by Design? Although the application of SSbD is voluntary, it provides clear benefits for companies and society: Risk prevention: Replaces hazardous chemicals, materials, or products with safer alternatives. Innovation: Promotes the development of safer, recyclable, and more efficient materials. Regulatory alignment: Supports compliance with EU sustainability policies and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.