SusChem, the European Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry was founded in 2004 as a forum for bringing together industry, academia, policy makers and the wider society to address societal challenges through sustainable solutions.
In the aforementioned capacity, SusChem welcomes the publishing of a Recommendation on establishing an assessment framework for Safe and Sustainable-by-Design chemicals and materials (1) by the European Commission.
SusChem appreciates the structured approach taken by the Commission towards the complex topic of establishing a European assessment framework for innovation on Safe and Sustainable-by-Design chemicals, materials and processes. The two-year trial period envisioned by the Commission will shed further light on the applicability of the proposed framework, especially in the innovation context, which will need to be corroborated by sound and robust data. The trial period will be supported by SusChem as a European Technology Platform and will aim at the eventual refinement and improvement of the framework in an iterative process. The degree of potential uncertainty with respect to availability of observations and data when creating and/or handling chemicals and materials at the early innovation stages is clearly acknowledged by the Commission. Nevertheless, whether the proposed assessment framework will make the European research and innovation landscape more competitive in a global context remains to be seen, which is why the two-year trial period will give more clarity.
The published Recommendation on establishing an assessment framework for Safe and Sustainable-by-Design chemicals and materials will propose a good basis and deliver improved instruments for shaping other crucial initiatives and projects that SusChem supports, such as the Transition Pathway for the Chemical Industry (to be published), the Advanced Materials Initiative 2030 (2) and IRISS – International ecosystem for accelerating the transition to Safe and sustainable by design materials, products and processes (3).
(2) https://www.ami2030.eu/, Roadmap about to be finalized