On 7 October 2026, the SSbD4CheM project participated in “The Future of Plastic (R)evolution” conference at Center Rog in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The event, organised by the National Institute of Chemistry (Kemijski inštitut – NIC) under the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”, marked the final conference of the EU-funded Horizon Europe REMEDIES project and the launch of its successor initiative, REMEDIES 5.0.
Bringing together 152 in-person participants and 35 online attendees, the conference gathered representatives from research, industry, innovators, (local) public authorities, civil society as well as the European Commission to discuss solutions to address plastic and microplastic pollution across the full product lifecycle. Throughout keynotes, demonstration sessions, and the concurrent 10th REMEDIES Cluster Meeting, participants evaluated deployed technologies for ocean waste collection and circular material valorisation, addressed standardising marine litter monitoring across regions like the Northern Adriatic, and established a transition framework into REMEDIES 5.0 to scale waterfront restoration, community engagement, and circular blue economy practices across European coastal cities and river basins.
As part of the event’s live innovation demonstrations in the Small Hall, SSbD4CheM showcased cosmetic products containing nanocellulose, developed by AHAVA with support from NIC team. These products demonstrate the potential of microplastic-free alternatives in cosmetics, helping prevent microplastics from entering aquatic ecosystems.
Ondrej Panák presented the SSbD4CheM solutions to participants, while Uroš Novak contributed to the organisation of the event and participated as a speaker in discussions related to the REMEDIES project.
The demonstration highlighted how the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approach can support the development of innovative products that address environmental challenges while considering safety and sustainability from the earliest stages of product design.
The participation in the conference provided SSbD4CheM with an opportunity to present project results to a broad, multidisciplinary audience and raise awareness of practical alternatives to microplastics. By showcasing solutions developed within the project, SSbD4CheM contributes to advancing safer and more sustainable products and supporting the transition towards a cleaner aquatic environment.
