Cassee FR, Bleeker EAJ, Durand C, Exner T, Falk A, Friedrichs S, Heunisch E, Himly M, Hofer S, Hofstätter N, Hristozov D, Nymark P, Pohl A, Soeteman-Hernández LG, Suarez-Merino B, Valsami-Jones E, and Groenewold M
The adoption of innovative advanced materials holds vast potential, contingent upon addressing safety and sustainability concerns. The European Commission advocates the integration of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles early in the innovation process to streamline market introduction and mitigate costs. Within this framework, encompassing ecological, social, and economic factors is paramount. The NanoSafety Cluster (NSC) delineates key safety and sustainability areas, pinpointing unresolved issues and research gaps to steer the development of safe(r) materials. Leveraging FAIR data management and integration, alongside the alignment of regulatory aspects, fosters informed decision-making and innovation. Integrating circularity and sustainability mandates clear guidance, ensuring responsible innovation at every stage. Collaboration among stakeholders, anticipation of regulatory demands, and a commitment to sustainability are pivotal for translating SSbD into tangible advancements. Harmonizing standards and test guidelines, along with regulatory preparedness through an exchange platform, is imperative for governance and market readiness. By adhering to these principles, the effective and sustainable deployment of innovative materials can be realized, propelling positive transformation and societal acceptance., Competing Interests: All authors declare that they have no interests to declare.•Flemming R. Cassee, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands & Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands•Eric A.J. Bleeker, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands•Cyrille Durand, TEMAS Solutions GmbH, Hausen, Switzerland•Thomas Exner, Seven Past Nine, Cerknica, Slovenia•Andreas Falk, BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (BNN), Austria•Steffi Friedrichs, AcumenIST SRL, Brussels, Belgium•Elisabeth Heunisch, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Germany•Martin Himly, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Austria•Sabine Hofer, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Austria•Norbert Hofstätter, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Austria•Danail Hristozov, East European Research and Innovation Enterprise Ltd, Bulgaria•Penny Nymark, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden•Anna Pohl, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Germany•Lya G. Soeteman-Hernández, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands•Blanca Suarez-Merino, TEMAS Solutions GmbH, Hausen, Switzerland•Eugenia Valsami-Jones, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom•Monique Groenewold,National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands, (© 2024 The Authors.)