Researchers Discover Renewable, Non-Estrogenic BPA Alternatives for Plastic Production

Their goal is to find safe, non-estrogenic alternatives to replace Bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogs, which are key components in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics for numerous consumer and industrial products. The study specifically focuses on bisphenols that can be made from renewable resources.

By aligning with the European Commission's Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, their approach makes these bisphenols promising candidates for regulatory approval, ultimately leading to industrial adoption. SSbD is a voluntary framework that guides the innovation process for safe chemicals and materials. This research is published in the journal Nature Sustainability.

The research identified three bisphenols with very low estrogenic effects, all of which can be obtained from renewable biomaterials. One of the compounds, Bisguaacole F (BGF), was incorporated into a polyester matrix. The synthesized polyester exhibited thermal stability and mechanical properties comparable to BPA-based plastics. All three have been identified as potential alternatives to BPA in a wide range of applications, including consumer products such as water bottles, furniture, and eyewear.

Helena Lundberg, the principal author and Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, stated that the study demonstrates the advantages of multidisciplinary team collaboration to minimize the negative impacts of new chemicals and materials on health and the environment.

“The workflow we deliver is a key aspect of this research. Our interdisciplinary collaboration in a manner compliant with the SSbD framework can be extended to various types of toxicity and chemical compounds used in consumer products.

Researchers started with over 170 potential bisphenols and, through a combination of computational screening, sustainable synthetic chemistry, and in vitro toxicology, ultimately selected candidates. Senior authors Oskar Karlsson (Toxicology, Stockholm University), Minna Hakkarainen (Polymer Technology, KTH), and Ulf Norinder (Data Science, Stockholm University) stated that the multidisciplinary structure of the project is crucial for assessing the safety and performance of the candidate bisphenols.

Karlsson said: "High-throughput toxicology enables us to quickly assess numerous drug candidates, which is essential to ensure that only the safest options proceed."Crucial."

Before bringing BGF-based materials to market, further testing, including long-term toxicology and life cycle assessment, must be conducted. However, Lundberg stated that this research makes an important contribution to eliminating harmful chemicals in our daily lives, particularly by demonstrating an effective SSbD workflow.

She said: "Safe and sustainable design methods help scientists provide new materials for everyday products that have no hidden health risks and minimal environmental impact.。”“"This means that consumers can obtain better products without sacrificing quality and convenience."