Safe and sustainable by design chemicals and materials

JRC 2022 - Framework for the definition of criteria and evaluation procedure for chemicals and materials

Within the European Green Deal, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) (EC, 2020a) identified a number of actions to reduce negative impacts on human health and the environment associated with chemicals, materials, products and services commercialised or introduced onto the EU market. In particular, the ambition of the CSS is to phase out the most harmful substances and substitute, as far as possible, all other substances of concern, and otherwise minimise their use and track them.

This objective requires novel approaches to analysing and comparing, across all life cycle stages, effects, releases and emissions for specific chemicals, materials, products and services, and move towards zero-pollution for air, water, soil and biota.

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Contents

Acknowledgements
Executive summary
Abstract

1. Introduction

2. Background concepts underpinning the SSbD framework
2.1 Sustainability, safety, and sustainable development goals
2.2 Green chemistry, sustainable chemistry, circular chemistry, green engineering, safe by design
2.3 Life Cycle Assessment
2.4 Sustainable Innovation and Responsible Research and Innovation

3. Definitions and sustainability dimensions in the proposed SSbD framework
3.1 Definitions
3.2 Sustainability dimensions
3.3 Hierarchical approach to SSbD dimensions

4. Structure of the framework: a stepwise approach
4.1 Guiding Design principles for SSbD: integration of SSbD assessment in the innovation process
4.2 Safety and Sustainability assessment
4.2.1 Hazard assessment of the chemical/material (Step 1)
4.2.2 Human health and safety aspects in the chemical/material production and processing phase (Step 2) 
4.2.3 Human health and environmental aspects in the final application phase (Step 3)
4.2.4 Environmental sustainability assessment (Step 4)
4.2.5 Scientific basis for the socio-economic sustainability assessment (Step 5)

5. Evaluation procedure
5.1 Adherence with SSbD principles and safety and sustainability assessment
5.2 Multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to support decision making in SSbD
5.2.1 Possibilities for multiattribute aggregation

6. Data availability and uncertainty
6.1 Overview of data sources to support the SSbD assessment
6.2 New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in the context of SSbD framework
6.3 Data quality and uncertainty

7. Conclusions
References
List of Abbreviations
List of Figures
List of Tables

Annexes
Annex 1. Definitions
Annex 2. Principles to support the development of SSbD chemicals and materials
Annex 3. GHS Column Model
Annex 4. Description of the Environmental Footprint 3.0 Impact Categories
Annex 5. Planetary Boundaries
Annex 6. Social sustainability aspects and indicators

Fonte: JRC

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