Integrating Social Aspects into Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD): A mapping of European Project Contributions

The European Green Deal aims to translate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into actionable strategies, striving for a sustainable, climate-neutral, and circular Europe by 2050. Its decisive goal is to safeguard human health and the environment by reducing pollution and foresting a toxic-free economy. Pollution, recognised as a major driver of planetary crises, is a central focus of the European Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) and the Zero Pollution Action Plan, which emphasise the hazardous impacts of chemical substances on human health and the environment. Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) is part of this strategy, aiming to minimise exposure to harmful substances and promote safer alternatives, including bio-based chemicals and advanced materials. To support this, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed a framework defining SSbD criteria, including key guidelines for chemicals and materials. The ANALYST project, funded under Horizon Europe, aims to define and validate a robust and integrated approach to assessing social, economic, environmental, and health impacts, by providing advancements for the SSbD framework. Its key innovations include the ANALYST-BOX, a methodology and guideline set for integrated impact assessment; ANALYST-DIGI, a digital platform for data-driven decision-making; and ANALYST-T-PACK, a validation program applying real-world use cases in the plastics value chain, particularly in the automotive and construction sectors. This study investigates how current European projects contribute to methodological advancements in SSbD, with a focus on assessing emerging technologies within this framework. In particular, it examines how these projects address and incorporate the evaluation and integration of the social issues into their approaches. The findings underline the need for more comprehensive Social Life Cycle Assessment methodologies, increased case studies, and further harmonization of sustainability frameworks to ensure the successful implementation of SSbD across industries. Finally, the paper identifies key future perspectives for advancing the SSbD framework.