Making Chemicals Safe and Sustainable by Design: Part 1

The chemical industry is a critical component of the modern global economy. As sustainability becomes an increasingly important consideration in the European Union's (EU) economic strategies, the European chemical industry is changing to embrace market demands and put Europe at the forefront of environmental protection, chemical innovation, and competitiveness.

Chemical industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers recently met in Brussels for the Safe and Sustainable by Design: Accelerating the Industrial Transition conference. The conference on March 19, 2026, was dedicated to the European Commission's (EC) revised recommendations for the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework. SSbD is a voluntary and strategic tool designed to support the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability to protect people and the environment by holistically integrating safety and sustainability into every stage of chemical development.

The conference discussions highlighted the way in which the revisions to SSbD move away from a linear, compliance-driven design to a circular, dynamic approach that integrates safety and sustainability during the entire innovation process. By taking this approach, the EC intends that SbD will foster collaboration, contribute to safer and more sustainable chemicals, and provide a strategic approach that anticipates regulatory demands instead of responding to them.