Imagine that you are developing a new bio-based adhesive as an alternative to fossil-based options. The goal is for the adhesive to be both more sustainable – by drawing on readily available bio-based raw materials, and safer for people – by reducing the use of chemicals harmful to human health and the environment.
In this case, it is essential that the new adhesive does not introduce other harmful ingredients or processes compared to the alternatives it seeks to improve upon.
A key part of ensuring this is having a robust framework that can accommodate the complexity inherent in innovation processes: Enter SSbD.
What is SSbD?
"The SSbD Framework is a general approach to steer innovation towards safe and sustainable chemicals and materials throughout the entire life cycle," according to Joint Research Centres methodological guidance.
Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) is a framework with guidelines that helps regulators, innovators and sustainability practitioners get a complete understanding of the impacts of their products.
It consists of a set of tools that are comprehensive, transparent and iterative, and is rooted in a holistic perspective. The aim is to allow the development of safe and sustainable products and technology from the ground up.
Innovation is complex. That means that any system that wants to improve it, needs to be able to handle this complexity. SSbD achieves this through its dynamic and flexible nature.
What does it mean that SSbD is a «dynamic framework»?
SSbD is a way to see the impacts of new products in a wide perspective, and use this view to make well informed choices to the benefit of both humans and nature. This is achieved through a framework that is dynamic in two ways: Both in its origin (the guidelines are updated regularly), and through its implementation (practitioners always consult the framework after applying changes).
How does SSbD work in practice?
According to the methodological guidance from the JRCthe SSbD framework has two components:
"The first is a (re)design phase, based on general SSbD design principles, which come from existing concepts, such as green chemistry, green engineering, sustainable chemistry and circularity."
The second is a five-step assessment fase, considering safety-, environmental- and social dimensions. Step 5, the socio-economic sustainability assessment part (previously optional), was significantly expanded in the latest revision of the framework in December 2025.
As mentioned, the implementation of the SSbD framework is iterative. In practice this means that the practitioners return to the framework throughout the innovation process with a gradually increasing amount of data and knowledge.
This continuous nature, with an increasing body of knowledge, leads to a tiered approach, where the SSbD gets more complete and fills in new gaps in knowledge each time the practitioners return to it.
What are the main benefits of involving SSbD in my project?
The dynamic approach of the SSbD framework has several benefits.
Firstly, it leads to better documentation of the sustainability efforts behind new products and technologies. Secondly, it shows – in a clear, step-by-step fashion – the reasoning for the choices behind the product.
It helps clear confusion and promotes transparency. On a societal level, it is a powerful tool in the shift towards a greener society.
I tillegg skaper SSbD et trygt rammeverk for åpenhet der innovatører kan dele informasjon om sine produkter, hva de består av og hva potensielle risikofaktorer kan være – uten at de selv risikerer å avsløre kritisk informasjon eller på andre måter svekke sin konkurransekraft.
Through the SSbD framework, companies can focus on the benefits their innovation can have for society, while at the same time be safe that company secrets don't end up in the wrong hands.
What is the output of applying the SSbD framework?
The main output of using the SSbD framework is not a result with two lines under it.
The framework works like a feedback system: When you assess your product through the SSbD framework you get results that you can use as a decision support to apply changes for a more safe and sustainable product. This in turn leads to new results that then again informs new changes for the better.
Along the way, every assessment, every step and every decision is documented, resulting in a transparent documentation of the entire process. In the end innovators get a compilation of documents that demonstrates both that they have investigated if their product is safe and sustainable, and how they did it.
From this iterative loop, you could say that the *actual output* is safer and more sustainable products, services or technologies – as well as full transparency about why and how products are safer and more sustainable.
How does SSbD differ from other types of assessments, like risk assessments or life cycle assessments?
SSbD has a broad perspective that may utilise both risk assessments and life cycle assessments. But where these provide results and answers, often with a judgement component – the SSbD does not, and only describes reality. It then uses this description as a basis to make better choices.
Practitioners use the information from a range of assessments and methods, consider them, and then go back into the value chain armed with this knowledge to apply the needed changes. The changed value system is then assessed anew, giving information that leads to further changes and so on.
To put it another way: SSbD starts where the assessments stop. It is rooted in making the changes you find necessary through the assessments.
Is SSbD mandatory?
No. For now, it is voluntary. But there are motions in place that may lead to it – or something close to it – becoming mandatory in the future, especially in EU projects.
Therefore: The sooner innovators learn and apply SSbD, the better. Not only for future proofing, but also for its other benefits: The guidelines have, as we have seen, several real and comprehensive benefits for society, the environment, and for the companies using it.
Where to start – how can NORSUS help?
NORSUS has extensive knowledge and experience in both SSbD and its recommended assessments. We have internal competence that allow us to act as project partners for anyone who wants to use the SSbD framework.
We also advise companies on whether they should consider using SSbD in their project.
For companies that know that they want to follow the SSbD approach, we have experienced practitioners on staff and can help with the actual implementation of SSbD and advise on best practices.
As mentioned, the framework is regularly updated with the latest knowledge and methods, and NORSUS continually keeps up to date with these developments.