GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

To deliver on the expected outcome, proposals should:

• Perform a wider scoping exercise, including opportunities and challenges, to propose priority areas and which (optimised or novel) bio-based solutions (chemicals, materials) show ‘solid’ potential as safer and sustainable alternatives/substitutes. This ‘exercise’/analysis should especially cover, but not only, areas where substances of very high concern (SVHC), substances of concern, persistent organic pollutants or legacy additives are currently in (end) use (e.g. textiles, plastics value chains);
• Select chemicals/group of chemicals/(advanced)materials/products and justify. Proceed then with design, (process) development and testing (to targeted TRL) of the chosen bio-based alternatives;
• Embed and assess functionality and value chain considerations for any novel solutions designed and developed, providing equivalent or improved functional performance versus existing and specified benchmarks. Functional performance should be assessed together with showcasing benefits on safety and environmental performance.
• Integrate the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework, developed by the Commission, for assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials.
• Contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of the SSbD framework. More specifically, provide thresholds that can support the criteria definition and improvements for the assessment SSbD methodologies, including any specificities related with bio-based chemicals and materials. Recommendations should also include identification of data gaps, especially safety, environmental, but also socio-economic factors, as well as priorities for data collection.
• Contribute with relevant data generated, along targeted value chain(s) (e.g. with regards to the bio-based substance/group of chemical substances or material).