Deadline: 22-Sep-2026
The European Commission is funding projects under Horizon Europe to develop Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) bio-based alternatives for the home and personal care sector. The programme supports industrial-scale biorefineries and high-performance bio-based chemicals that replace conventional ingredients in consumer products. Projects must demonstrate TRL 8 industrial deployment, validated product performance, and integration into market-ready formulations.
Overview of the Funding Programme
The European Commission is inviting applications under the Horizon JU Innovation Actions to accelerate safe, sustainable bio-based innovations for the home and personal care industry.
The initiative focuses on replacing conventional chemical ingredients with bio-based alternatives that meet strict environmental, safety, and performance standards.
Total funding allocation: €170,760,699
Dedicated topic: SSbD bio-based solutions for home and/or personal care sector – €20 million
Key Objectives of the Programme
This funding call supports EU industrial and environmental transformation goals through advanced bio-based innovation.
Core objectives include:
- Development of Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) solutions
- Industrial-scale deployment of bio-based alternatives
- Replacement of conventional chemicals in consumer products
- Strengthening bio-based industrial value chains
- Improving environmental sustainability of consumer goods
- Supporting EU industrial competitiveness and green transition
- Ensuring high-performance consumer product formulations
What Are SSbD Bio-based Solutions?
SSbD (Safe and Sustainable by Design) bio-based solutions are materials and chemicals derived from biological sources designed to be:
- Environmentally safe across their lifecycle
- Non-toxic and sustainable in production and use
- Functionally equivalent or superior to conventional chemicals
- Compatible with industrial-scale manufacturing systems
Focus Areas of the Programme
1. Industrial-scale biorefineries
- Large-scale production of bio-based chemical ingredients
- Integration into existing industrial supply chains
- Efficient and scalable bio-based manufacturing systems
2. Home and personal care applications
- Soaps, detergents, and cleaning products
- Cosmetics and skincare formulations
- Hygiene and personal care chemical replacements
3. SSbD innovation deployment
- Design of safe chemical alternatives
- Lifecycle sustainability assessment
- Reduction of hazardous substances in consumer products
4. Value chain strengthening
- Integration of raw material supply to final product
- Collaboration across chemical, biotech, and consumer goods industries
- Improved supply chain resilience
Technical Requirements
Projects must demonstrate high technological maturity and real-world deployment readiness.
Technology readiness requirements:
- TRL 8 required for SSbD bio-based solutions in home/personal care applications
- Demonstration of industrial deployment and commercial readiness
- TRL 6 required (where relevant) for additional industrial use cases beyond personal care
Performance requirements:
- Product stability in formulations
- Adequate shelf life
- High functional efficacy (cleaning, moisturizing, etc.)
- Equal or improved performance vs conventional chemicals
Application and Market Validation
Projects must prove that innovations work in real consumer products.
Required validation includes:
- Integration into market-ready formulations
- Testing in real home and personal care products
- Stability and compatibility testing
- Performance benchmarking against existing products
Environmental and Safety Requirements
A core requirement is compliance with SSbD principles.
Key safety expectations:
- Reduced environmental toxicity
- Safe use throughout lifecycle (production → use → disposal)
- Elimination or reduction of hazardous chemicals
- Sustainable raw material sourcing
- Minimal environmental footprint
Eligible Participants
The programme is open under Horizon Europe rules with broad eligibility.
Eligible entities include:
- Companies (SMEs and large enterprises)
- Research organisations and universities
- International organisations
- Legal entities from non-associated third countries
- Industrial consortia and associations
Key requirement:
- Must have legal personality and the ability to hold rights and obligations
Administrative Requirements
Participant registration:
- All applicants must register in the EU Participant Register
- A Participant Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory before grant agreement signing
Participation structures:
- Affiliated entities allowed under conditions
- Associated partners permitted in consortia
- Entities without legal personality may participate under specific rules
- EU bodies may be included unless restricted
- Associations can apply as single beneficiaries or with members
Why This Programme Matters
This initiative supports a structural shift in the global consumer chemicals and personal care industry.
Key benefits:
- Reduces dependence on fossil-based chemical ingredients
- Promotes safer consumer products
- Strengthens EU green industrial competitiveness
- Advances circular and bio-based economy models
- Supports large-scale sustainable manufacturing
- Improves environmental safety of everyday products
- Encourages innovation in cosmetics and cleaning sectors
How It Works / How to Apply
Step-by-step process:
- Form a consortium of eligible partners (industry + research + biotech)
- Identify the Horizon JU Innovation Action topic
- Develop a detailed proposal including:
- SSbD bio-based chemical design
- Industrial-scale production plan (TRL 8)
- Product formulation and testing strategy
- Environmental and safety assessment
- Market deployment plan
- Submit application via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal
- Undergo evaluation based on:
- Scientific and technological excellence
- Industrial feasibility and maturity
- Environmental and societal impact
- Successful projects receive funding for implementation and scaling
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Technical mistakes:
- Submitting low-TRL (early-stage) technologies
- Weak industrial-scale deployment strategy
- No product formulation or market integration plan
Compliance mistakes:
- Ignoring SSbD framework requirements
- Insufficient safety or toxicity assessment
- Lack of lifecycle environmental evaluation
Strategic mistakes:
- No clear pathway to consumer product adoption
- Missing collaboration with industry end-users
- Weak scalability beyond pilot stage
Tips for Strong Applications
- Ensure TRL 8 readiness for core solution
- Demonstrate real consumer product integration
- Build strong industrial partnerships (cosmetics, cleaning, chemicals)
- Align explicitly with SSbD principles
- Include lifecycle environmental impact analysis
- Provide clear market deployment and commercialization strategy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the main goal of this funding programme?
To develop and deploy safe and sustainable bio-based alternatives for home and personal care products.
2. How much funding is available?
The total budget is €170,760,699, with €20 million specifically for SSbD bio-based solutions in this sector.
3. What does TRL 8 mean in this context?
TRL 8 means the technology is fully developed, validated, and ready for industrial deployment in real market products.
4. Which products are targeted?
Home and personal care products such as detergents, cosmetics, skincare, and cleaning formulations.
5. Who can apply?
Companies, research institutions, international organisations, and consortia with legal personality under Horizon Europe rules.
6. What is SSbD?
Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design, meaning products must be safe for humans and the environment throughout their lifecycle.
7. Is industrial participation required?
Yes, strong industrial involvement is required for production scale-up and market validation.
Conclusion
This Horizon Europe funding call accelerates the transition toward safe, sustainable, and bio-based consumer chemicals. By supporting TRL 8 industrial deployment of SSbD solutions, the programme aims to transform the home and personal care sector with environmentally friendly, high-performance alternatives that strengthen Europe’s green industrial leadership and consumer safety standards.
For more information, visit European Commission.
