Coordinator: Giampaolo Campana (UniBo, Italy) & Monica Fabrizio (CNR, Italy)
Starting from the original well-known definition based on the Triple Bottom Line concept, Sustainability is entering a new age. The term has sometimes become overused; new definitions have emerged; several methods and tools to evaluate the life cycle impact of products are available. Even if not definitely accepted, new rules and standards are proposed to certify not only products’ but complex systems' sustainability (such as the EPD, Environment Product Declaration, for example).
Indeed, a new concept is underway by rethinking risk and environmental assessments to support the transition towards climate neutrality and a sustainable, toxic-free environment. For this purpose, the Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design materials, (manufacturing) processes and products concept is the object of recent research projects. Chemicals, materials, products, and processes that are safer and more sustainable by design are expected to be investigated and enter the markets after being evaluated through reliable, shared and overall accepted methods and tools. This concept development and its practical uses represent a societal urgency and a great economic opportunity for the European manufacturing industry to regain competitiveness.
Critical issues of available methods and tools are still under analysis (database availability for local and their reliability, the need for an interpretation of the results of life cycle impact assessment and other items) and must be surpassed by making the risk-sustainability assessment a shared standard practice. Then, the aims of sub-program two are to focus on materials processes and products for energy applications by considering and integrating scientific research and development approaches with a practical application of the Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design and the Regulatory Preparedness concept. All three pillars of sustainability are considered, environmental, social and economic, being this sub-programme transversal, with the aim to collaborate with all AMPEA SPs as well as other EERA JPs.