The safe-and-sustainable-by-design concept: innovating towards a more sustainable future
Lya G. Soeteman‐Hernández, Christina Apel, Bernd Nowack, Akshat Sudheshwar, Claudia Som, Elina Huttunen‐Saarivirta, Anna Tenhunen‐Lunkka, Johanna Scheper, Andreas Falk, Eugenia Valsami‐Jones, Cris Rocca, Maurice Brennan, A. Igartua, Gemma Mendoza, Klara Midander, Emma Strömberg, Klaus Kümmerer
Abstract
Abstract Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) is a new concept proposed by the European Commission to support the urgent need to transition towards a more preventive and proactive approach in chemical and material innovation which supports a more sustainable future and in meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. SSbD provides orientation and guidance by taking a system approach. SSbD building blocks were developed: regenerative corporate and societal strategic needs (considering service and function), risk and sustainability governance, competencies, and data management. This viewpoint brings these building blocks together in a holistic way to create an innovation landscape ensuring safer and more sustainable chemicals, materials, production processes and products in science, technology, and industry; starting from ‘design’ and that is fit for supporting a sustainable future.