A good SSbD (or Safe and Sustainable by Design) strategy considers hazard properties of substances, exposure (to humans and/or to the environment), product performance and cost. The aim is to find that sweet spot where cost, safety, function and safety and sustainability meet.

At Yordas, our team has helped develop an SSbD performance index that can predict and measure the safety of a chemistry and/or product. The index draws on multiple metrics including exposure scores (calculated using both predictive toxicological models and existing data), takes into account exposure reduction factors, calculates and analyses product performance and incorporates a calculation of cost index. The aim is that the score can then be used by stakeholders across the lifecycle of a product and to demonstrate to users and regulators the safety of a product. 

While the initial focus of the index applies to nanomaterials, it dovetails nicely with broader conversations, including the current campaign by our friends over at the EPAs SaferChoice program–see #Saferspringcleaning. SaferChoice, of course, also incorporates similar considerations in its certification of safer products to help consumers make better-informed choices. 

Looking a bit further out, we’ll be helping to drive forward these discussions at other forums, such as the Household and Commercial Products Association mid-year meeting in Washington, DC May 7-10 or the ChangeChemistry EU Forum in Belgium June 12-14. Look out for us at the events or get in touch with us to find out how to implement the principles and processes of the index at your company.

You can visit our website for more information on our SSbD-related initiatives and subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on upcoming sustainability and regulatory changes.

About our expert

Giselle Vincett, VP - North America

Giselle heads Yordas Group’s North American operations, leading on customer engagement, business development and thought leadership in the region. She has a background in academic social science research and teaching with an emphasis on qualitative and social action research methods. She has conducted and managed both small and large-scale research projects and was a Mercator Research Fellow at the University of Leipzig in Germany. She holds a PhD from Lancaster University in the UK.