New IRISS publication: Accelerating the Industrial Transition with SSbD

In February 2025, a new publication from IRISS was published in RSC Sustainability, focusing on how SSbD can be used for a safe and sustainable industrial transition and strengthening the science-policy-industry interface.

SSbD is not a new approach but has its roots in decades of effort around cleaner production, green chemistry, sustainable chemistry, and benign by design. What makes it pertinent today is the increased urgency and its incorporation as a key approach in the European Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

Strengthening Science-Policy-Industry Interface

To achieve the speed, efficacy and efficiency needed to support this urgently required transition, an effective science-policy-industry interface is imperative. It is essential that the knowledge generated in research with regards to safety and sustainability supports policy and more importantly is taken up by industry.

Bridges are needed between research, policy, investment, and industry through closer collaboration. Collaboration is also needed within the companies and between companies along the product life cycle. This means a stronger internal corporate alignment between R&D, sustainability and business teams on design and production of chemicals, materials, processes, and products. External stakeholder alignment is also needed with authorities, customers, users, recyclers and other end of life sectors such as the water sector.

To bridge these different silos, it is necessary to build a multisectoral community of practice and a platform as a “one-stop-shop” to bring the field of innovation closer to the fields of safety and sustainability (environmental, social, economic). This is the aim of the recently launched IRISS SSbD Community. Policy needs to set criteria and provide support, goals, and incentives; researchers methodology to support the development of knowledge, data, and tools needed; industry the practical knowhow and collaboration to drive SSbD innovations in the marketplace. There is a need for transparency in criteria, assessment, and data including FAIR data and information, to drive and implement SSbD in a trusted, systematic and thoughtful way.

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