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29.04.2026 10:23

Safe and sustainable from the outset: New toolbox helps develop future-proof chemicals, materials and products

Dipl.-Phys. Annette Maurer-von der Gathen Presse und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Fraunhofer-Institut für Biomedizinische Technik IBMT

Developing new chemicals and materials that are safe and sustainable from the very beginning - this is the aim of the EU-funded project »SSbD4CheM«. Together with 18 partners from 14 countries, the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT is working on an innovative toolbox featuring practical tools, guidelines and databases to support companies, public authorities and researchers in implementing the »Safe and Sustainable by Design« principle. Fraunhofer IBMT contributes its expertise in advanced toxicological and analytical methods, develops new testing procedures and drives the harmonization of standards for assessing safety and sustainability.

How can new chemicals and materials be developed so that they are as safe as possible for people and the environment - while also being sustainable? This question is central to many everyday products, from functional clothing to creams and make-up. Modern materials are expected to deliver high performance - but must not cause long-term damage or leave behind persistent residues such as microplastics or »forever chemicals« (PFAS).

This is where the EU-funded project »SSbD4CheM« (»Safe and Sustainable by Design for Chemicals and Materials«) comes in. Nineteen partners from 14 countries - including universities, research institutes, and small and medium-sized enterprises - are jointly developing a practical toolbox that enables new chemicals and materials to be planned to be safe and sustainable from the outset.

Why new solutions are needed

Europe already has many regulations and databases for registering chemicals and reducing risks, such as the »REACH« regulation. However, important information is often missing for newly developed substances: How do they behave in the environment? Are they toxic to humans or animals? Do they break down again? This creates a dilemma for companies, authorities and researchers: they are expected to develop innovative products while reliably protecting health and the environment. The earlier risks are identified, the easier it is to avoid or replace hazardous substances.

What SSbD4CheM is developing in concrete terms

»SSbD4CheM« pursues a clear goal: new chemicals and materials should be »safe and sustainable by design« - i.e., designed from the outset to be as safe, environmentally compatible and future-proof as possible. To achieve this, the project is developing, among other things:
• a shared framework for »Safe and Sustainable by Design« - clear guidelines on how to systematically incorporate safety and sustainability,
• rapid testing and screening methods that provide early indications of potential hazards,
• computer models that consider multiple aspects (e.g., health, environment, resource use) simultaneously,
• approaches that enable improved environmental and life-cycle assessment of new materials - even when data are limited,
• proposals for standardizing new methods so they can be used across Europe and recognized by authorities.

The project focuses on three areas that directly affect many people:
• Textiles: Development of PFAS-free coatings for water- and stain-repellent clothing. PFAS are particularly persistent chemicals that can accumulate in the environment and in organisms.
• Cosmetics: Use of cellulose nanofibers to replace microplastic particles in cosmetic products such as exfoliating scrubs.
• Automotive industry: Development of the next generation of lightweight, robust composite materials that conserve resources and can reduce energy consumption.

The role of Fraunhofer IBMT: New test models instead of animal testing

The Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT contributes its many years of experience in cell-based test systems, microsystems engineering and toxicological assessment to the project. The aim is to develop animal-free testing methods that better reflect realistic exposure scenarios for humans and the environment.

Fraunhofer IBMT develops and harmonizes innovative laboratory and tissue models - including highly specialized barrier models of the lung and the gastrointestinal tract - in order to:

• recreate pulmonary and oral uptake of chemicals and new materials in a realistic manner,
• investigate effects on relevant target organs in a focused way,
• test chemicals and new materials safely and efficiently in the laboratory,
• avoid animal testing entirely,
• map realistic exposure scenarios for consumers,
• close data gaps and enable more reliable risk assessment.

The work includes, among other things, state-of-the-art microfluidics-based biohybrid systems, advanced in vitro models (based on human induced pluripotent stem cells), and ex vivo models (e.g., a gastrointestinal mucus barrier model), which together create a dynamic and as physiologically realistic testing environment as possible.

»Our goal is to ensure that safety and sustainability are not only assessed at the end, but are taken into account right from the start when developing new materials«, says Dr. Yvonne Kohl of Fraunhofer IBMT. »With our new technologies, we can identify risks earlier - while also reducing animal testing.«

The analytical and toxicological methods developed in the project are prepared in a way that allows them to be introduced into regulatory and standardization bodies. In this way, »SSbD4CheM« helps establish new standards, increase market acceptance of safe and sustainable products, and strengthen industrial innovation.

Project overview
»SSbD4CheM« - Safe and Sustainable by Design framework for the next generation of Chemicals and Materials
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Project coordinator
Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzo VITO, Belgium, Milica Velimirovic

Partners
Flemish Institute for Technological Research VITO, BE
Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH, GER
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung e.V., GER
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, LU
Instituto Tecnologico del embalaje, transporte y Logística, ES
Kemijski Institut, SI
Hochschulen Fresenius Gemeinnuetzige Traegergesellschaft, GER
Asociación para la Promoción, Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica de la Industria del Calzado y Conexas de La Rioja CTCR, ES
Novamechanics Monoprosopi IKE, EL
BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, AT
Postnova Analytics GmbH, GER
Entelos Institute Ltd, CY
Universiteit Leiden, NL
Swensea University, UK
Centro Ricerche Fiat SCPA, IT
AHAVA Dead Sea Laboratories LTD, IL
Korteks Mensucat Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirket, TR
Tofwerk AG, AU
Edelweiss Connect GmbH, CH

Budget
9,48 Mio. € (654.000 € IBMT)

Duration
01.01.2024 – 31.12.2027

Project funding
HORIZON-CL4-2023-Resilience-01-21 of the European Union. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement n° 101138475. UK participants in »SSbD4CheM« are supported by UKRI. CH participants receive funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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Wissenschaftliche Ansprechpartner:

Dr. Yvonne Kohl
Fraunhofer-Institut für Biomedizinische Technik IBMT
Phone +49 6897 9071-256
yvonne.kohl@ibmt.fraunhofer.de

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Weitere Informationen:

https://www.ssbd4chem.eu/

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Merkmale dieser Pressemitteilung:
Journalisten, Wirtschaftsvertreter, Wissenschaftler
Chemie, Gesellschaft, Medizin, Umwelt / Ökologie, Werkstoffwissenschaften
überregional
Forschungsprojekte, Kooperationen
Englisch

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