A new commentary published in Nature Sustainability reflects on the results of a new study identifying a potentially less toxic bisphenol chemical as an example of the Safe and Sustainable by Design framework for creating a generation of safer chemical alternatives.
In short:
- The Safe and Sustainable by Design framework, introduced by the European Commission in 2022, lays out principles for the redesign and assessment of industrial chemicals based on four considerations: hazard, worker’s exposure during production, exposure from use, and full life-cycle impacts.
- Using this framework, researchers identified a bisphenol chemical that does not have estrogenic properties, unlike toxic BPA.
- This new bisphenol also shows potential for high technical performance and is created from renewable materials.
Key quote:
“Importantly, this work signals a growing interest among chemists… to find safe substitutes for endocrine-disrupting commercial chemicals to enhance the welfare of the ecosphere and the sustainability of our civilization.”
Why this matters:
Existing bisphenol chemicals — including BPA and its common substitutes BPS and BPF — have well-established negative health consequences, particularly to metabolism and reproduction. While some countries have limited the use of BPA, the use of other estrogenic bisphenols has continued to increase, undermining regulations’ protective potential. This commentary emphasizes how critical it is that health and environmental impacts be prioritized as key considerations in the creation of new chemicals alongside economic potential and technical performance.
Related EHN coverage:
- Op-ed: Building a safe and sustainable chemical enterprise
- FDA’s current BPA safety standards are outdated, misguided and flawed, scientists say
More resources:
- European Commission: Safe and Sustainable by Design framework
- Tiered Protocol for Endocrine Disruption (TiPED), a tool used by the authors of this commentary to facilitate the early identification of potentially endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Collins, Terrence et al. for Nature Sustainability. Dec. 4, 2025
Margarita, Christiana et al. for Nature Sustainability. Dec. 4, 2025
