The UK government hosted two workshops to promote collaboration on the safe and sustainable development of advanced materials. These events brought together diverse stakeholders to share insights and shape relevant policies. Attendees highlighted the need for regulatory definitions, standards and test methods, and incentives to stimulate safe and sustainable development (SSbD) of advanced materials. In particular, there was a call for training small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on the SSbD concept and tools available for implementation. In addition, RIVM identified a need for improved integration of sustainability aspects like durability, reusability, and recyclability into SSbD approaches.

Two workshops, many stakeholders and one goal: safe and sustainable advanced materials innovation

In 2021 and 2023, the UK government hosted two workshops focused on the safe and sustainable development of advanced materials. These workshops aimed to bring together people from different fields to share knowledge and help shape UK policies related to innovation and chemicals. A recent paper reported the discussions and insights shared during these events. Workshop topics included the definition of advanced materials and the main challenges in creating and bringing them to market. The discussions also touched on the idea of safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD), including the tools available for this purpose. They addressed environmental, health and safety concerns, particularly when these materials reach the end of their life cycle.

At both workshops, key experts gave presentations to set the stage for discussions, and participants shared their thoughts through visual word clouds. The feedback served as a basis for further discussions among attendees. The workshops provided a unique opportunity for policymakers, regulators, standardisation organisations, funding bodies and academia to hear and understand the concerns of industry professionals and researchers. This interaction was crucial in identifying what support is needed to develop innovative, safe and sustainable advanced materials that can succeed in the market.

Key insights from the workshops

The authors shared several important takeaways from the workshops. They highlighted the potential benefits of advanced materials, such as reducing the amount of materials and energy we use and creating stronger and lighter materials. However, from a regulatory standpoint, it is crucial to establish clear definitions, standards, and testing methods for these materials. SMEs often experience current chemical regulations as quite complicated. To support these businesses, they should receive education, training, and early communication with regulators.

To encourage research and secure funding, the authors suggest that proposals should address environmental, health and safety impacts of advanced materials. Additionally, they point out the need for more incentives to use existing SSbD tools and to provide training on how to use them effectively. In particular, understanding the sustainability implications of materials at the end of their life cycle requires further research.

Dedicated funding and strong partnerships among different stakeholders are essential to implement these recommendations successfully. This collaboration will help gather the necessary information, education and skills to move forward.

Reflections by RIVM

These workshops have been valuable in creating communities focused on sharing knowledge about safety and sustainability at the national level in the UK. Similar networks in Europe, like the Network for Safety and Sustainability of Chemicals and Materials (NSC), have successfully highlighted comparable challenges in (hazard) testing related to nanomaterials. These collaborations among European research projects have also identified the need for a “governance structure to manage the risk and sustainability of advanced materials”, and suggestions have been made to achieve that.

However, many of these networks struggle because they lack long-term financing and depend heavily on voluntary contributions. Without a clear leader to coordinate activities, these networks often struggle to maintain their energy and progress. On a positive note, some new networks are starting to form with a sense of ownership and direction. For example, there is an initiative to explore the need for a European Centre of Expertise for Safe and Sustainable by Design and steps toward a European Platform for Regulatory Science Research for Nanomedicine (see also under Medicine in this Newsletter).

In the UK, there seems to be a solid momentum for the knowledge-sharing network. The authors mention plans for future workshops and further development of the network. In a personal communication with RIVM, they also noted that many of the authors remain actively involved in ISO and OECD activities related to advanced materials. These authors plan to share the insights from those experiences with other UK stakeholders as well.

RIVM agrees that further research is needed on certain aspects of SSbD. Important elements like what happens to these materials at the end of their life are not fully addressed in current SSbD approaches. As highlighted by the NSC, key aspects of the circular economy—like durability, reusability, and recyclability—are not included in the current SSbD frameworks. Additionally, impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functions are crucial but lacking. This situation also highlights the need for better use of existing data and filling in any gaps in knowledge. Lastly, RIVM emphasises the importance of education and training to promote SSbD, especially for SMEs.