SSbD – Safe and sustainable by design

SSbD is a voluntary framework from the EU. It aims to ensure that new materials and chemicals are designed in a safe and sustainable way, taking into account health, climate and the environment.

Who is affected by SSbD?

Many different societal actors are affected by SSbD, but it primarily impacts companies in the manufacturing and chemical industries. For consumers, it means that they will be able to make more sustainable and safer choices.

What are the guidelines in SSbD?

Although the SSbD framework is still under development, there are clear guidelines on how innovation processes should be conducted in line with the SSbD concept. SSbD complements the EU's REACH regulations, which are a mandatory framework. While REACH governs the launch and use of chemicals, SSbD is voluntary. SSbD supports proactive innovation, which in turn can lead to faster approval and higher market acceptance.

What is IVL doing in SSbD?

Since the early 1990s, IVL has been an authority on calculating environmental impact (such as life cycle assessments, LCA) and performing life cycle cost (LCC) calculations from a life cycle perspective. In recent years, this expertise has been extended to include social life cycle assessments (sLCA) for evaluating social aspects from a life cycle perspective, as well as risk assessments of chemicals using computer simulations (known as in silico methods). This gives IVL a strong foundation for conducting excellent SSbD assessments.

IVL collaborates with both Swedish and international actors to further develop and implement the SSbD concept. We continuously refine the methodology for SSbD assessments through research projects and programmes that we lead or participate in, and through case studies where the SSbD framework is applied to specific chemicals, materials or processes.

IVL offers the following services in SSbD:

• Comprehensive assessment of the safety profile of chemicals and materials, including existing substances and recent innovations
• Analysis of health and environmental impacts during production, use, and waste management
• Identification of risks and substitution of hazardous substances or processes
• Design of processes and products in line with SSbD principles for increased competitiveness and regulatory compliance
  
• By integrating SSbD into your operations, you ensure a safe and sustainable development process that takes into account health and the environment, as well as legal requirements and regulations.