Abstract To facilitate Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD), the HARMLESS project developed a SSbD approach and Decision Support System (DSS) for advanced materials. The SSbD approach and DSS are in alignment with the EU recommended SSbD framework, tools and methods, including New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), and tailored to the innovation stage of the material under development. The SSbD approach follows a flexible stage-gate model with three innovation stages: 1) Ideation & Business Case Phase, 2) Lab Phase, and 3) Pilot Phase. The SSbD-DSS guides designers through a workflow starting with the Advanced Material Earliest Assessment (AMEA) tool. AMEA contains three questions enabling categorization and subsequently advice on design principles. A second tool, named Warning flags, design Advice, Screening Priorities (WASP) consists of twelve questions to identify early warning flags and provide design and assessment advice. A third tool, named Alternative SSbD Design Inspector (ASDI) provides guidance on descriptors to measure in the Lab Phase for informed decision making on the most optimal SSbD version. By adapting the data and resource requirements to each innovation stage, the SSbD-DSS facilitates practical implementation of SSbD, supporting the user to find a transparent balance between safety, sustainability and performance.

AbstractIn the context of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability Towards a Toxic-free Environment, and in the aim to facilitate Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) development of new materials and products, the EU-funded project HARMLESS builds a Decision Support System (DSS) to support innovators in SSbD assessments of products at early design stages. The HARMLESS DSS is fine-tuned to enable Advanced Materials (AdMa) screening, using a combination of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and guided by Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATAs). Three online tools for SSbD screenings are developed and tested on case study materials, namely: Advanced Materials Earliest Assessment (AMEA), Warning flags, design Advice, Screening Priorities (WASP) and Alternative SSbD Inspector (ASDI). The following case studies are assessed: Oxide-perovskites for automotive catalysts, imogolites for agricultural solutions, aerogel mats for facade insulation and colloidal silica for paint formulations. The case study materials are provided by both large and small enterprises, they represent diverse industry sectors and different stages in the value chain. Results show the DSS ability to guide innovators in developing SSbD AdMa, by facilitating the assessment of most SSbD dimensions and visualizing the results in a comprehensive, yet detailed way, enabling their own balancing of SSbD benefits and trade-offs.