The 2nd Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) Boot Camp took place from 22-25 October 2024, in Thessaloniki, Greece. Organized as part of the broader European efforts to advance SSbD methodologies, the event provided participants with in-depth insights into the SSbD framework and the stage gate innovation process, featuring real-life applications and hands-on training sessions for the participants on the PARC SSbD toolbox.
The boot camp gathered around 67 researchers, students, and professionals from industry and SMEs, from 21 countries. Attendees gained practical experience in applying key assessment methods outlined in the SSbD framework, including hazard assessment, exposure assessment, risk assessment, environmental sustainability assessment, and socio-economic sustainability assessment. Participants worked with varying levels of data availability, ranging from data-poor to data-rich chemicals, simulating different stages of innovation in chemical and material development.
During breakout sessions, participants collaborated in small groups to apply the SSbD framework to real-world case studies using the PARC SSbD toolbox. These interactive sessions allowed attendees to familiarize themselves with the toolbox’s functionalities while gaining hands-on experience in assessing chemicals and materials based on SSbD principles. The final day of the boot camp featured presentations by participant groups, where they shared their learnings and provided feedback on their user experience.
SSbD4CheM was represented by Pau Camilleri Lledo (ITENE) and Barry Hardy (Edelweiss Connect (EwC)), who actively participated in the workshop activities and provided valuable feedback to the project. Their engagement helped increase awareness of SSbD4CheM within the PARC initiative and fostered new collaborations with researchers and industry professionals.
By participating in the SSbD Boot Camp, SSbD4CheM continues to strengthen its role in advancing safe and sustainable chemical design, supporting knowledge-sharing, and building a network of experts dedicated to sustainability in the chemicals and materials sector.
More information about the 2nd SSbD Boot Camp is available here.
