Problem introduction Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been extensively used in the food packaging industry due to their exceptional water and oil repellency, providing essential barrier protection for products like pizza boxes, fast-food containers, and microwave popcorn bags. However, PFAS are highly persistent in the environment and have been linked to significant health risks, including bioaccumulation in humans and wildlife. The widespread contamination and toxicity concerns have prompted regulatory actions, notably the European Union’s (EU) proposed comprehensive ban on PFAS. Despite this regulatory pressure, transitioning to PFAS-free alternatives in the food packaging and food contact materials industry presents complex challenges. Research objective and main research question The objective of this study is to identify and analyze the key technical, regulatory, economic, and social barriers hindering the adoption of PFAS-free alternatives in the food packaging industry. The main research question guiding this thesis is: What are the key challenges for implementing PFAS-free alternatives in the food packaging & food contact materials industry? Methods To address this, the research applies the Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) framework, which analyzes the dynamics of innovation processes and the roles of various actors, networks, and institutions. Data collection involved a comprehensive literature review, analysis of scientific reports, examination of the annex of the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) PFAS ban proposal, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (including manufacturers, regulators, NGOs, and industry representatives), and analysis of stakeholder responses during the ECHA’s public consultation process. Qualitative content analysis and thematic coding were employed to interpret the data and identify systemic problems within the TIS. Results The results highlight systemic barriers across multiple dimensions: manufacturers exhibit a lack of entrepreneurial activity and struggle to effectively utilize available knowledge and resources, while institutional challenges such as the absence of clear incentives, fragmented regulations, and regulatory ambiguities further hinder the transition. Additionally, weak coordination and mismatched priorities among stakeholders exacerbate the difficulty of creating alignment and legitimacy for PFAS-free alternatives. The study emphasizes that these barriers can be effectively addressed through the implementation of the comprehensive PFAS ban combined with collaborative efforts from key stakeholders. Strategies such as financial and technical support for innovation, harmonization of EU-wide regulations, and the creation of platforms for knowledge sharing and stakeholder alignment offer realistic and feasible pathways to guide the industry toward PFAS-free alternatives. These measures not only address the systemic problems but also build a foundation for sustainable innovation and market formation. Discussion This study contributes new knowledge by providing critical insights into the implementation of the proposed PFAS ban and its practical implications. The discussion highlights the positive relevance of the findings, as the results suggest that nearly all identified systemic barriers can be overcome through targeted regulatory measures and stakeholder collaboration. The practical relevance of this research is underscored by its demonstration that the current obstacles are surmountable with realistic interventions, offering actionable recommendations for the food packaging industry to transition toward PFAS-free solutions. Future research Future research should focus on evaluating the long-term performance and socio-economic impacts of alternatives while exploring mechanisms to scale their adoption across the industry.

The rapid advancements in synthetic biology have allowed for the development of revolutionary technologies such as bacteriophage-mediated gene and microbiome therapies. These technologies create the need for management of the upcoming risks and uncertainties. Safe-by-Design is a strategy to build in safety measures in an effort to mitigate and anticipate risks in synthetic biology applications. This study aims to portray a nuanced review of the opportunities and challenges posed by Safe-by-Design through a case study on this year’s iGEM project, the application of gene and microbiome therapy principles to mitigate the issue of Desert Locust swarms. To gather an all-round perspective on the current state of synthetic biology, bacteriophage-based therapies, and Safe-by-Design, these aspects are assessed in terms of governance. Synthetic biology regulations have long ensured safe research practices, but the lack of adequate regulations for novel phage-based technologies hampers the development of this field of research. In further detail is discussed how the use of the precautionary principle guarantees biosafety but also limits the discovery of risks and uncertainties. Downstream Safe-by-Design is proposed as a method to facilitate policy-making and to tackle concerning issues such as transnational regulations and public perception of biosafety. In this report, the risks associated with the application of bacteriophages for non-therapeutic purposes are determined and multiple Safe-by-Design approaches are analyzed to mitigate these risks and uncertainties. This resulted in the collection of quorum sensing, kill switches, encapsulation, anti-CRISPRs, and auxotrophy as suitable Safe-by-Design measures for this project. Furthermore, the challenges and limitations regarding the application of Safe-by-Design are reviewed. This analysis concludes that uncertainty and a lack of knowledge of the intricate synthetic biology systems are the main constrains on Safe-by-Design for synthetic biology. Lastly, it is concluded that Safe-by-Design is a promising strategy to ensure biosafety because of its dynamic and proactive character, and recommendations are made to stimulate future progress in this area of research.