An Iterative Approach to Implement the Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design Framework in Textile and Packaging Coatings

The Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) systemic approach enables the integration of safety and sustainability assessment during the earliest stages of innovation, thus facilitating the research and introduction into the market of innovative materials and novel (manufacturing) processes. Due to their usage in multiple applications and for their persistence in the environment, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances have become an imminent matter of environmental concern on a global scale. Indeed, they can exhibit unique amphiphilic properties of significant interest in several industrial fields, fostering their use in applications. Besides, the remarkable strength of the carbon-fluorine bond characterises these compounds and determines their non-degradability. Due to their extensive use in industrial products and their persistence, PFAS substances cause a continuous release and accumulation in the environment. Eventually, recent investigations have discovered their hazardous and harmful effects on human and animal health. The paper proposes an iterative approach, performed within the ZeroF project (www.zerof.eu), based on the SSbD framework and used to identify chemical components and additives to substitute PFAS to produce innovative coatings for textile and packaging applications. The approach optimises the coating composition, manufacturing and deposition process. It considers the environmental impacts of the coated products, estimated costs and the safety assessment.