The European Commission unveils new Chemical Industry Action Plan

The European Commission has launched a new Chemicals Industry Action Plan that aims to strengthen the EU chemical sector’s competitiveness and resilience. Among its key measures is the introduction of innovation hubs that could help accelerate the implementation of the Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) framework.

The Action Plan tackles key challenges faced by the industry and sends a clear signal to global investors, backed by concrete measures that set a strategic course for European policymakers. These measures aim to lower energy costs, simplify regulatory requirements, and support the sector’s transformation toward a more sustainable future.

A standout element of the plan is the introduction of EU Chemicals Innovation Hubs that will embed the SSbD framework to accelerate the development of safer and more sustainable chemicals from the earliest stages of innovation. These hubs aim to help companies, especially SMEs, by providing technical guidance, supporting substitution of hazardous substances, and encouraging collaboration among product designers, chemical companies, scientists, and research organisations.

This work will align closely with the upcoming revision of the SSbD25 framework (2025), which is expected to make the development of safer and more sustainable alternatives more efficient and competitive. It will also benefit from dedicated EU funding, such as Horizon Europe programmes (2025–2027), which will provide about €120 million to fund SSbD-related projects, also leveraging AI and digital tools.

Read the full Action Plan here External link, opens in new window.