SSbD 2026: the new “European framework” to innovate chemicals and materials in a safer and more sustainable way

The new Recommendation (EU) 2026/510, anticipated by the publication of the SSbD (Safe and Sustainable by Design) framework by the JRC (Joint Research Centre), is embedded within the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (“towards a toxic‑free environment”). This strategy promotes innovation for chemicals and materials that are “safe and sustainable by design” (SSbD) and encourages, where possible, prioritising the substitution of substances of concern.

At the same time, the text refers to the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 – ESPR), highlighting the link between product requirements, chemical safety assessments and SSbD criteria developed by the European Commission.

The decision to revise the previous 2022 SSbD Recommendation stems from the outcomes of two testing phases, including feedback from stakeholders, aimed at improving the relevance, reliability and operational usability of the SSbD framework.

From an SSbD perspective, safety and sustainability assessment is conceived as a holistic, iterative and progressive pathway in which, throughout the entire innovation decision‑making process, practical factors such as functionality and cost are also considered. The scope of analysis covers the entire life cycle of chemicals and materials, including both the processes in which they are used and the products into which they are incorporated. A key element is the continuous involvement of specialised expertise on safety and sustainability across the different phases, while ensuring transparency in the application of the principles and traceability of the assessment throughout the evolution of the innovation.

The structure of the SSbD framework is cyclical, emphasising its iterative and gradual nature in both implementation phases and the innovation process. Each cycle consists of the following elements:

• scope analysis: definition of the objectives, principles and decision‑making rules of the innovation;
• SSbD scenario, understood as the representation of the results of the scope analysis and the identification of the point of entry into the SSbD framework;
• safety and sustainability assessment: a holistic assessment of safety and sustainability aspects, the latter including environmental and socio‑economic considerations, throughout the entire life cycle of the chemical substance or material;
• SSbD evaluation: presentation of the results of the safety and sustainability assessments, comparing them with the objectives, principles and decision‑making rules defined during the scope analysis;
• documentation: recording the implementation of the SSbD framework in a traceable and transparent manner, outlining actions and objectives for subsequent progressive iterations.

The new Recommendation represents a voluntary decision‑making approach that integrates safety and sustainability considerations throughout the entire life cycle in the development of new chemical substances, innovative materials or improved production processes.

In summary, Recommendation (EU) 2026/510 is not a compliance obligation in the strict sense; it is an invitation to use a common methodological reference to make innovation in chemicals and materials more efficient, comparable, and oriented towards substitution with safer and more sustainable alternatives.