This SaferWorldbyDesign webinar will focus on the practical application of evidence-based substitution. It will present best practices, methods and solution approaches for structuring PFAS substitution projects from initial problem formulation through alternative identification, comparative assessment, decision-making and implementation.

Participants will be introduced to integrated workflows that bring together chemical hazard, exposure and toxicokinetic information, product performance, lifecycle and sustainability considerations, regulatory requirements and business constraints. The webinar will also examine how FAIR data, computational methods, New Approach Methodologies, mechanistic evidence and transparent AI-assisted workflows can support more efficient and defensible decisions while maintaining expert judgement and human oversight. Practical case-study examples will illustrate how candidate alternatives can be screened, compared and prioritised; how evidence gaps and uncertainties can be made explicit; and how decisions can be documented in a reproducible form that supports communication with scientists, engineers, customers, auditors and regulators.

The central message is that successful PFAS substitution is not simply a chemical replacement exercise. It is a structured innovation and decision process. By applying Safe and Sustainable by Design principles early, organisations can reduce risk, accelerate product development and turn regulatory pressure into an opportunity for safer innovation and long-term competitive advantage.