Toward Safer and More Sustainable Plastics

In a collaboration between Stockholm University and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, researchers have identified bio-based bisphenols with the potential to replace bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical widely used in consumer plastics and associated with hormone disruption and adverse health effects.

“Chemical pollution is one of the major global environmental challenges we face today, and many of the substances in use have never been thoroughly evaluated for their health effects,” says Professor Oskar Karlsson at the Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, and SciLifelab.

Health Concerns Push the Search for BPA Alternatives

BPA plays a central role in many common plastic products, including food containers, water bottles, thermal papers and electronic components. However, BPA’s ability to mimic estrogen has raised substantial concerns. Research over the past two decades has associated BPA exposure with effects on reproductive development, metabolism, and neurodevelopment. As a result, restrictions have been introduced in many regions, yet broadly applicable and safer replacements remain limited.

Designing New Materials with Safety and Sustainability in Mind

To search for safer alternatives, the team followed a Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) strategy that combined computational prediction tools, toxicology, sustainable organic synthesis, and materials science. More than 170 bisphenol candidates were initially assessed through computer-based screening. Those that met the basic criteria were then synthesized and tested experimentally, allowing the researchers to narrow the field to the lead candidate, bisguaiacol F (BGF).

This compound showed no estrogenic activity, can be produced from lignin-derived components, and is manufacturable at laboratory scale. The team also demonstrated that BGF can be incorporated into polyester materials with properties suitable for a range of consumer applications.

Toxicology Enables Smarter Chemical Design

The toxicology work was carried out at SciLifeLab, led by Professor Oskar Karlsson, who is also former deputy director and now board member of the Stockholm University Center for Circular and Sustainable Systems (SUCCeSS). The study aligns with the mission of the centre and the newly published Stockholm Declaration on Chemistry for the Future , which emphasizes the need for safer and more sustainable chemical innovation.

Using high-throughput in vitro assays, the team evaluated bisphenol candidates initially screened with computational approaches, examining their potential to activate estrogen receptors and disrupt endocrine pathways.

“High-throughput toxicology allows us to rapidly evaluate many candidates, which is essential to ensure that only the safest options progress,” says Oskar Karlsson. “At SciLifeLab, we have the infrastructure and expertise to carry out this kind of large-scale testing, which is key for identifying safe chemical building blocks early in development. It enables us to guide innovation toward solutions that protect both health and the environment.”

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration a Key Ingredient

In addition to the toxicology work, the study integrates expertise across fields such as data science (Ulf Norinder, Stockholm University), organic chemistry (Helena Lundberg, KTH), and polymer technology (Minna Hakkarainen, KTH) to guide the development of new materials. BGF, derived from renewable feedstocks, performed as well as or better than BPA-based alternatives in fundamental material tests, opening potential for applications ranging from consumer products to textiles and household goods.

Helena Lundberg, Associate Professor in organic chemistry at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, says the study demonstrates the advantages of working in a multidisciplinary team to minimize negative health and environmental impacts of new chemicals and materials. She also emphasizes that while further long-term toxicology and full life-cycle evaluations are needed before BGF-based materials reach the market, the study shows that safer, high-performance plastics are within reach.

Oskar Karlsson adds that the research illustrates why creating interdisciplinary research environments such as SUCCeSS is important for fostering the collaborations needed to develop safer and more sustainable chemical solutions in the future.

“There is a clear need for a fundamental change in how we design and assess new chemicals. The SSbD approach helps us move toward materials that do not carry hidden health risks and that are produced with minimal environmental impact. This study is a concrete example of how we can build safer products from the start rather than dealing with the consequences later.”

More information

Read the article “Safe-and-sustainable-by-design approach to polyesters from non-oestrogenic bisphenols” published in Nature Sustainibility.

Read the press release from KTH Royal Institute of Technology: “Alternative to BPA passes toxicity and sustainability standards set by EU innovation guidelines”.