Methodology for safe and sustainable materials

For transition to a safer, more sustainable future, we need to change the way we produce chemicals and materials. Instead of wasting resources and using hazardous substances, we need to reduce resource use, move away from oil, recycle what we can and choose safer, more sustainable chemicals and materials. However, in order to make such a change in practice, we need to develop alternatives that also work well technically and are economically viable. Companies are faced with challenging decisions where they need to weigh different factors in several areas of expertise and make decisions for the best, most long-term sustainable solution.

I RISE kunskapsplattform Safe and Sustainable by Design (tidigare Materialomställning för hållbara, säkra och giftfria material) är målet att bygga en tvärdisciplinär verktygslåda och plattform med experter som kan vägleda i olika stadier i innovation och utveckling. Till hjälp har vi EU:s ramverk "Safe and Sustainable by Design" (SSbD) som ämnar just för detta. IThe content of the framework is really nothing new. We need to analyse the toxicity of what we produce, the working environment in production, the risks in the user phase and sustainability from a life cycle perspective. The challenge is how we tie together competencies and visualize a common result to provide comprehensive, scientific guidance.

The activities in the project includes:

• Case studies to clarify how RISE's competencies in materials and process development, toxicology, life cycle assessment, techno economics and policy development can be combined into an interdisciplinary toolbox for safe and sustainable innovation.
• Development of working methodologies to put the framework for Safe and sustainable by design into practice. Development of templates, checklists and tools for visualization of results.
• Identification and filling of knowledge gaps, based on the needs of industry and society, for example through the development and validation of analysis and evaluation methods.