Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) as an enabler - Positioning SSbD within current chemistry frameworks

Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) aims to integrate functionality with safety and sustainability in an iterative and lifecycle thinking approach, starting already at the design stage of the innovation process. This proactive approach ensures that chemicals, materials, and other products are produced and used without being a threat to human and planetary health. In the authors’ understanding, SSbD should ideally start with defining the function or service that is needed and how it can be delivered in the most sustainable way. This should include using the least amount of chemicals or even no chemicals when non-chemical or non-material alternatives are available (systems thinking). This perspective explores where SSbD fits into the bigger picture with respect to already existing chemistry frameworks such as Green Chemistry, Circular Chemistry, Chemistry within a Circular Economy, and Sustainable Chemistry. Analysing the design principles, assessment levels, and key aspects shows that SSbD is strongly interlinked with these chemistry concepts. Greener synthesis (Green Chemistry) and circular value chains (Circular Chemistry and Chemistry within a Circular Economy) are important aspects and objectives of SSbD, while the closed link and highest similarity is to Sustainable Chemistry as both operate on a system level and start with the function/service that needs to be provided. This in mind, the authors consider SSbD as an enabler of Sustainable Chemistry to accelerate the transition towards sustainability from the design stage, thereby moving the chemistry sector towards more sustainable practices, contributing to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and ensuring humanity operates within the planetary boundaries.