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Innovation through Collaborative Wisdom

Integrated Pathways: Advancing Safe and Sustainable by Design Material
Integrated Pathways: Advancing Safe and Sustainable by Design Material Innovation through Collaborative Wisdom

DESIDERATA aims to develop safer and sustainable alternatives to substances of concern with flame retardant, plasticiser, and surfactant properties through
the EU’s Safe and Sustainable by Design framework.

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Innovation Action

DESIDERATA is a Horizon Europe Innovation Action bringing together 16 partners across 13 European countries to advance safe and sustainable chemical innovations.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Research and Innovation program (IA in the Digital, Industry and Spaces areas) under grant agreement N° 101178011 and from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).

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The challenge: Substances of Concern

Harmful Substances

Medium-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins, halogenated flame retardants and PFAS pose significant health and environmental risks.

Essential Functions

These substances play a vital role in enhancing the performance and safety of numerous products by serving as flame retardants, plasticizer, and surfactants.

Need for Alternatives

The EU Chemicals Strategy calls for safer and sustainable alternatives to support environmental protection and supply chain resilience.

Our consortium

A consortium of 16 partners drives this transformation, combining expertise from research organizations, SMEs, corporations and academia.

Safe and Sustainable by Design Framework

The EU’s Safe and Sustainable by Design framework guides the development of chemicals and materials to be inherently safer and impact less across the entire life cycle. 

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Integration

Fully implemented solutions

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Trade-Offs

Balancing safety, sustainability and performance

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Environmental Sustainability

Life cycle assessment and circularity evaluation

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Safety Assessment

Hazard screening and risk evaluation

Project Objectives

Alternatives for Substances of Concern (SoC)

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Develop new materials

Create SSbD compliant alternatives to substances of concern

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Enhance interoperability

Improve data sharing across the value chain

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Promote safer substances

Advance market uptake of sustainable alternatives

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Maximize impact

Foster collaboration with the industry and the civil society

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Demonstrate the SSbD framework

Test and validate the framework through real industrial use cases

Our Mission

Advancing Chemical Innovation

The project will contribute to the transformation in industrial value chains such as construction, injection molding, and 3D printing by developing novel substitutes for Substances of Concern (SoC) – addressing a critical market gap where no alternatives currently exist.

The insights gained will guide policymakers in refining and expanding the SSbD framework across European chemical and material manufacturing sectors.

Creating safer, sustainable chemical substitutes

Developing safer alternatives to hazardous substances in key industrial applications for a sustainable future.

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Simplifying SSbD adoption through validation

Validating the Safe and Sustainable by Design framework to streamline adoption in European industries.

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Fast-tracking sustainable material innovation

Accelerating the development of innovative materials to replace harmful chemicals in diverse industrial sectors.

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Enabling secure, collaborative data sharing

Facilitating secure data exchange across stakeholders to drive innovation and ensure sustainable chemical solutions.

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Impact In Numbers

Reduction in CO2 emissions with inorganic polymers
0 %
Partners across 13 countries
0
Years of cutting-edge research
0 +
New developments of SSbD compliant substances, thanks to replication and Open Science in years 1-2 after the project's completion.
0

Material Innovation

Development of sustainable and safer chemical alternatives.

SSbD Validation

Real-world testing and implementation of the Safe and Sustainable by Design framework.

Collaborative Platform

Secure data-sharing through our Trusted Environment system.

Regulatory Support

Providing insights and frameworks to guide policy improvements.

Industry Solutions

Tailored approaches for sectors like construction, 3D printing, and manufacturing.

Comprehensive Methodology

DESIDERATA employs a holistic approach to chemical material replacement, providing support across multiple dimensions to ensure successful implementation.

 
Safety Assessment
Evaluating hazards and risks throughout the life cycle
Environmental Sustainability
Conducting life cycle assessment and circularity evaluations
Economic Viability
Analyzing costs and market potential
Social Acceptance
Assessing stakeholder needs and concerns

Case Studies

Advancement Beyond The state of the art

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Safer Construction Materials

Replacing hazardous plasticizers with sustainable alternatives for safer building components.

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Advanced 3D Printing Solutions

Developing eco-friendly flame retardants for use in 3D-printed products across industries.

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Greener Industrial Manufacturing

Substituting harmful surfactants with safe, effective solutions in large-scale production.

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Regulatory Compliance Support

Helping manufacturers meet and exceed European SSbD standards with validated innovations.

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Secure Data Sharing

Enabling real-time collaboration across research and industry with the Trusted Environment platform.

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Sustainable Injection Molding

Implementing safer chemical substitutes to produce eco-friendly plastic components at scale.

Data Management and Interoperability

FAIR data principles

All data will be findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable supporting open science practices while protecting intellectual property.

​The project will utilize Entelos Cloud Platform and specialized database to facilitate seamless data exchange across the consortium.

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Trusted Environment Platform

A key innovation of DESIDERATA is the development of a Trusted Environment Platform for secure data exchange of information between the different stakeholders involved in the SSbD process.​

​This platform will enable regulators, industry, and researchers to share insights while maintaining confidentiality and protecting intellectual property.

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By subscribing, you agree to receive updates and opportunities to support safer chemistry through surveys, workshops, ambassadorship, and SSbD practices.

Benefits for organizations

Implementing Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles can help protect health and environment while enhancing your approach to chemical management.
​
Your perspective is valuable as we work to improve chemical alternatives. We welcome your participation.

Contact us

Make your expertise count

We invite you to participate in DESIDERATA’s work toward safer, sustainable chemicals. By registering, you consent to becoming a stakeholder and receiving project updates.

How you can contribute

Participate in our surveys, join workshops to help develop solutions, or share our mission with your networks.

Get in touch with us

Make your expertise count

We invite you to participate in DESIDERATA’s work toward safer, sustainable chemicals. By registering, you consent to becoming a stakeholder and receiving project updates.

How you can contribute

Participate in our surveys, join workshops to help develop solutions, or share our mission with your networks.

Benefits for organizations

Implementing Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles can help protect health and environment while enhancing your approach to chemical management.
​
Your perspective is valuable as we work to improve chemical alternatives. We welcome your participation.

Contact us

 
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Research and Innovation program (IA in the Digital, Industry and Spaces areas) under grant agreement N° 101178011 and from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).
Contact Information

DESIDERATA is pioneering safe and sustainable chemical innovation by replacing hazardous substances in industrial applications

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Copyright © 2025 Desiderata
Golden molecular structure floating above a black liquid on a white background.

The DESIDERATA project focuses on the creation of innovative, safer chemical substitutes to replace harmful substances currently used in industrial processes. By targeting key sectors such as surfactants, plasticizers, and flame retardants, the goal is to reduce risks to human health and the environment. These substitutes are designed to meet both industry and regulatory needs while advancing sustainability in manufacturing practices.

Digital visualization of glowing data streams over a microchip circuit board.

The Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework is critical in guiding industries toward safer chemical alternatives. DESIDERATA highlights the validation of SSbD through real-world industrial use cases, ensuring the framework is practical and applicable. By validating SSbD at different stages of technical readiness, the DESIDERATA project helps streamline its adoption across European industries, making it easier for companies to implement sustainable practices.

Close-up of a smooth, porous, bone-like white material under soft lighting.

The DESIDERATA project is dedicated to speeding up the development of innovative materials that can replace harmful chemicals in a variety of industries, including construction, injection molding, and 3D printing. The project is focused on advancing these sustainable material solutions from early-stage research to practical, industrial-scale applications. By doing so, it aims to facilitate the rapid transition to greener and safer materials in European manufacturing processes.

Three tall cylindrical glass tubes and one glass ring on a white background.

The DESIDERATA project emphasizes the creation of a trusted, secure platform for data exchange among research teams, manufacturers, and other stakeholders. By enabling secure sharing of critical data, the project fosters collaboration and ensures that innovations in sustainable chemicals and materials are based on accurate, accessible, and reliable information. This collaborative approach is key to overcoming challenges and ensuring the successful adoption of sustainable alternatives across industries.