Progressing the 'Safe and Sustainable by Design' Framework for Greener Enzyme-based Innovations

This policy brief presents recommendations derived from the experience in using the SSbD framework in the context of four enzyme-based innovation cases in the Horizon Europe funded OXIPRO project, as policy input for future refinement of the framework. Key Messages: •Prioritization of hazard assessment in SSbD excludes OXIPRO’s enzyme-based solutions despite their environmental impact potential creating a major gap in the evaluation of substances that could contribute significantly to European sustainability goals. •The SSbD assessment of OXIPRO’s enzyme-based innovations faced challenges typical of early-stage innovations, where risk and exposure data are scarce or limited, and assessment methods are not yet well-developed. •Addressing these barriers requires fostering collaboration and SSbD training, refining methods for early-stage assessments, and alignment of policies.