Sustainability & Innovation

This guidance outlines a set of key guiding principles designed to foster collaboration within value networks to enhance circularity in the European chemical sector.

These principles aim to support the development of a shared agenda among value network partners, encouraging dialogue to identify the steps needed from diverse stakeholders – both directly involved (e.g., feedstock suppliers, product manufacturers and recyclers) and indirectly involved (e.g., policymakers, consumers) – to improve circularity within specific value networks.

Cefic’s guidance “Safe and Sustainable-by-Design: A Guidance to Unleash the Transformative Power of Innovation,” provides detailed, actionable advice for integrating SSbD principles across the entire R&D lifecycle, with specific activities for each phase.

This work builds on and expands content from two earlier Cefic publications on SSbD: “A Transformative Power”, and “Safe and Sustainable-by-Design: Boosting Innovation and Growth within the European Chemical Industry”.

In collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Cefic commissioned the development of a CSRD handbook, based on a survey of over 100 chemical companies and discussions with industry professionals.

This handbook will be regularly updated to reflect new developments as well as industry needs and experiences. Cefic supports its member companies to navigate the CSRD, addressing implementation challenges and reducing reporting burden.