Safe and Sustainable-by-Design: a key tool to boost innovation and growth

Hosted by MEP Maria Spyraki

Co-chair of the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development’

In October 2020, The Chemical Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) was launched by the European Commission as a core element of the European Green Deal. As the CSS sets out a vision for the EU’s chemical policy, to strive for a “toxic-free environment”, it thus calls for a transition to chemicals that are Safe and Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD). The European Commission’s vision on Safe and Sustainable-by-Design moves towards a future where “Chemicals are produced/used in a way that maximizes their benefits to society while avoiding harm to planet & people and production and use of safe and sustainable chemicals in Europe becomes a benchmark worldwide”, as put forward in the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

Therefore, the SSbD concept can be turned into a mobilizing power driving for innovation and accelerating the transition towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), circularity and climate neutrality. For this reason, it is crucial that the criteria for chemicals that are Safe and Sustainable-by-Design address the three pillars of sustainability – environmental, social and economic factors – and take a life cycle approach. Moreover, a holistic and multistakeholder approach of different sectors and key players needs to be taken into consideration to achieve an inclusive and successful transition towards chemical that are Safe and Sustainable-by-Design.

In this regard, the European Parliament Intergroup on “Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development”, in collaboration with Cefic, is co-organizing an online event aiming at encouraging strong involvement, dialogue and close cooperation among different stakeholders on the SSbD issue. The event will provide the opportunity to explore concrete examples on chemical innovation in the industry sector, while also creating an open discussion between EU Institutions, the NGO community and other stakeholders.