SSRbD & SURPASS

This section provides the essential background on the Safe-, Sustainable-, and Recyclable-by-Design (SSRbD) concept, the SURPASS project's mission, and the digital infrastructure developed to support innovators in the plastics industry.

Overview of SSRbD

Safe-, Sustainable-, and Recyclable-by-Design (SSRbD) is a forward-thinking approach that integrates safety, sustainability, and circularity considerations from the very beginning of the material and product innovation process. The goal is to anticipate and minimise potential negative impacts on human health and the environment throughout the entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life. This framework, adapted from the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) recommendations, guides developers in creating next-generation materials that are not only high-performing but also inherently safer and designed for a circular economy.

Overview of the SURPASS Project

The SURPASS project was funded to address a key challenge for innovators, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs): the lack of practical, accessible tools to implement complex SSRbD principles. The project's primary goal is to develop and validate a holistic SSRbD assessment methodology and operationalize it through this user-friendly, open-access digital infrastructure. By providing targeted guidance and a unique scoring system, SURPASS aims to empower SMEs to design the next generation of polymeric systems for the building, transport, and packaging sectors.

The SURPASS SSRbD Approach

The SURPASS project has translated the JRC framework into a practical, iterative approach specifically tailored for polymeric materials. This methodology is built on a decision-tree logic to guide sustainable assessments throughout the innovation process.

Key features of the SURPASS approach include:

  • A Three-Step Process: The approach consists of identifying lifecycle impacts, developing SSRbD strategies to address them, and verifying that these strategies lead to safer and more sustainable alternatives.
  • Tiered Assessment: The platform uses a three-tiered assessment system that adapts to the maturity of the innovation.
    • Early Stage: Assessments are simpler and require less data, ideal for when design freedom is high. This is supported by the Sustainable Plastic Framework (SPF) tool, a holistic questionnaire-based method.
    • Mid & Late Stage: Assessments become more complex and data-intensive as the product matures and design freedom decreases.
  • Parallel Assessments: Rather than a slow, sequential process, the SURPASS tool assesses different pillars (e.g., Hazard, Environment, Cost) in parallel. This agile method allows for the rapid identification of hotspots and enables corrective actions early in the design phase.