Recently the EU introduced the concept of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD), experts are now searching how to increase the safety, sustainability and circularity of chemicals, materials and products and their production processes.
During Phase I of the NWA Safe-by-Design call, three projects were granted, spanning the continuum from design of chemicals, materials and products such that they are safe, sustainable and circular during the entire life cycle from design, production, consumption and waste phase.
These consortia will work together in this Phase II BenignSynthesis project to synthesize the knowledge and tools developed, and provide a beneficial synthesis between the three consortia. This has great added value, as currently during the development of chemicals, materials or products there is hardly interaction between these domains. This Phase II BenignSynthesis project will as far as possible further generalize, integrate and simplify methods developed in the three Phase I projects, with the following ultimate aim:
An overarching Safe,Sustainable&Circular-by-Design approach for the Chemicals-Materials-Product continuum in which the life cycle of design, production, consumption and waste is accounted for.
We will study the differences and commonalities in underlying concepts, definitions, approaches, criteria, models and tools as well as potential tensions in decision making. BenignDesign provides the potential of making better decisions with regard to the entire product life cycle. Together with stakeholders, we will reflect on requirements for a fruitful implementation of the developed overarching approach and upon possible barriers and support uptake by developing guidance documents and deriving policy recommendations for further support.
