Project Summary
PLANETS is revolutionizing the chemical industry by turning the EU’s Green Deal ambitions into action.
By applying the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, PLANETS develops and demonstrates safer, more sustainable alternatives to critical chemical classes—plasticizers, flame retardants, and surfactants—at industry-ready scales (TRL 6-7).
With a consortium of 18 expert partners from seven countries, including leading companies, SMEs, RTOs, and NGOs, PLANETS integrates science, technology, and industry expertise to:
- Develop safer, eco-friendly chemicals through advanced SSbD assessments.
- Create innovative consumer goods using new molecules in applications like coatings, insulation foams, and childcare products.
- Advance social and economic impact with stakeholder engagement, training, and digital tools like the Digital Product Passport.
PLANETS is paving the way for market adoption and industrialization of sustainable chemistry, leading to safer and more sustainable products important to our daily lives.
Why
SSbD?
In the 20th century, environmental protection became a global concern as evidence of harm to ecosystems and public health mounted. Yet innovation often raced ahead of detection of potential risks. Many products, like persistent pesticides and PFAS, were deployed before their dangers were fully understood.
Over time, high-profile incidents and mounting scientific evidence spurred policy reforms, such as the EU’s REACH regulation (adopted nearly two decades ago) to better control hazardous substances. Meanwhile, rapid population growth drew attention to planetary boundaries, emphasizing that resources are finite and sustainability is crucial.
Today, the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability encourages “Safe and Sustainable by Design”: integrating safety and environmental considerations from the start. The key challenge is ensuring that these measures do not hamper innovation or economic growth. Will it be easy? No—but it is exactly the kind of challenge that PLANETS is prepared for.
Work Plan
PLANETS will demonstrate the applicability of the SSbD Framework on the technical development of alternatives to 3 of most important classes of molecules in chemical industries (plasticizers, flame-retardants and surfactants) at TRL 6 and their incorporation into broadly available consumer goods at TRL 7. The new molecules and products will be significantly safer to workers and consumers. They will have considerably lower environmental impact, while ensuring economic viability and social awareness throughout the 3 value chains.
PLANETS is structured to ensure the development of safer and more sustainable alternatives by economically viable processes. PLANETS will provide decision and policy support, leading to the evolution of the SSbD Framework.
The project is organized in 9 Work Packages collaborating for 4 years:
- Work Package (WP) 1, led by CEA, will ensure the coordination of the project.
- WP2, led by CEA, is dedicated to the selection of the SSbD tools and methods used during the project.
- WP3, 4 and 5, led by Syensqo, Fraunhofer ICT and IPC, respectively, will develop alternative molecules for each of the 3 case studies: surfactants, flame retardants and plasticizers.
- WP6, led by TNO, will include generalized lessons learned and SSbD decision support for successful substitution.
- The exploitation strategy and business plans will be realized in WP7, led by RINA.
- Activities related to the education, social sciences and humanities will be performed in WP8, led by PLUS.
- PLANETS stakeholders will be identified, and results disseminated, by BNN in WP9.
