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The Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) marks a turning point in the EU’s approach to chemical safety and sustainability, with the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework as a key innovation tool. This paper aims to explore how EU-funded projects (Horizon Europe 2025; Horizon 2020) are integrating the social dimension, via Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), into the SSbD framework, with a focus on underrepresented sectors such as plastics and specifically PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride). A mapping and screening of 66 EU projects was conducted, based on publicly available data and expert input. Of these, 18 projects demonstrated some methodological or applicative contribution to social assessment. Results show that whilst awareness of social sustainability is growing, its integration remains fragmented and preliminary. Concrete approaches, such as stakeholder engagement and social hotspot analysis, were identified only in a few cases. The lack of sector-specific guidance and data availability, particularly in early-stage technologies, hinders broader uptake of S-LCA. Nonetheless, initiatives such as ISO 14075:2024 and Social Product Declarations (SPDs) offer promising pathways for developing Product Category Rules (PCRs) and harmonizing practices. Overall, the study highlights the need for structured, cross-sectoral guidance to strengthen the role of social sustainability in SSbD.

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Integrating Social Aspects into Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD): A Mapping of European Project Contributions

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  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Federica Silveri,
  • Manuela D’Eusanio,
  • Luigia Petti

摘要

The Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) marks a turning point in the EU’s approach to chemical safety and sustainability, with the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework as a key innovation tool. This paper aims to explore how EU-funded projects (Horizon Europe 2025; Horizon 2020) are integrating the social dimension, via Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), into the SSbD framework, with a focus on underrepresented sectors such as plastics and specifically PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride). A mapping and screening of 66 EU projects was conducted, based on publicly available data and expert input. Of these, 18 projects demonstrated some methodological or applicative contribution to social assessment. Results show that whilst awareness of social sustainability is growing, its integration remains fragmented and preliminary. Concrete approaches, such as stakeholder engagement and social hotspot analysis, were identified only in a few cases. The lack of sector-specific guidance and data availability, particularly in early-stage technologies, hinders broader uptake of S-LCA. Nonetheless, initiatives such as ISO 14075:2024 and Social Product Declarations (SPDs) offer promising pathways for developing Product Category Rules (PCRs) and harmonizing practices. Overall, the study highlights the need for structured, cross-sectoral guidance to strengthen the role of social sustainability in SSbD.