Strengthened Framework for Safe and Sustainable by Design chemicals and materials to drive Europe’s clean industrial leadership

The Commission adopted today a revised recommendation on the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, reinforcing Europe’s commitment to chemicals and materials innovation that aligns with the Clean Industrial Deal’s ambition for a toxic-free, circular, and competitive economy.

Building on the initial 2022 Commission Recommendation, this updated framework was shaped by extensive stakeholder engagement and real-world testing across key value chains, from packaging, textiles and construction to automotive, energy, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. It marks a strategic leap forward in embedding safety, sustainability, and functionality at every stage of a product’s lifecycle. By providing a robust, voluntary decision-making tool, the Commission is empowering businesses to future-proof their innovations, accelerate market uptake, and strengthen Europe’s position as a global leader in sustainable industrial transformation.

This revision cuts red tape, while raising standards, by introducing clear, streamlined assessment approaches that make safety and sustainability the default choice – not a compliance hurdle. It will benefit and empower startups and scaleups alike. Applying a ‘SSbD approach’ early in the innovation process enhances cost efficiency of the innovation process and ensures greater compliance with current and anticipated regulatory requirements. This speeds up market entry and thus helps European innovators getting a critical edge in the global race for sustainable solutions.

Moreover, the revision is an important development in the context of the EU Chemicals Innovation and Substitution Hubs. As announced in the European Chemicals Industry Action Plan, these Hubs will aim to support companies and researchers to overcome innovation barriers, accelerate safer alternatives, and support the substitution of targeted chemicals. This includes the promotion of the SSbD approach.

This Recommendation calls on Member States, industry – including SMEs to startups and scaleups – alongside universities, research institutions, and innovation hubs to embed SSbD principles at every stage of chemical and material development. It encourages them to actively apply the SSbD Framework in research, production, and commercialisation, ensuring safety and sustainability become core drivers of innovation. Additionally, stakeholders are encouraged to integrate the Framework into strategic agendas, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of Europe’s clean industrial transition.

Next Steps

The Commission will actively promote the uptake of the SSbD approach through different channels, including through EU Chemicals Innovation and Substitution Hubs. The Commission will kick-start the work on these hubs at a conference on “Safe and Sustainable by Design: Accelerating the Industrial Transition” on 19 March 2026. The event will be an opportunity for stakeholders to learn about the new SSbD framework and how it can facilitate industrial transformation. SSbD is also relevant for advanced materials, for which the Commission will present an Advanced Materials Act before the end of the year.

Background

First announced in the 2020 Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the initial Commission Recommendation establishing a European assessment framework for ‘Safe and Sustainable by Design chemicals and materials’ was adopted in December 2022. A testing period followed, during which Member States, industry, academia and research and technology organisations gave their feedback on the assessment framework via a voluntary reporting mechanism. This fed into the revised Commission Recommendation, which maintains the ambition and enhances innovation guidance, while it also introduces new components and simplified entry points for informed decision-making.