Exploring Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) Framework for Responsible Facade Design: A Case Study with Leafy
A.R. Goyal (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)
P.H.A.J.M. van Gelder – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Safety and Security Science)
Britte Bouchaut – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Safety and Security Science)
L. Asveld – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Ethics & Philosophy of Technology)
M. Yang – Mentor (TU Delft - Safety and Security Science)
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Abstract
This thesis examines how safety and sustainability can be integrated into novel biobased façade panels. In the context of rapid urbanisation, climate change and the construction sector’s significant environmental footprint, biobased materials offer potential but face barriers such as fire safety, durability and long-term performance concerns. The EU’s SSbD framework embeds safety and sustainability from early product development, yet its application to construction, particularly for biobased façades, remains limited.
Using Leafy, a startup producing bamboo-based panels, as a case study, this research operationalises the SSbD framework through a qualitative approach with quantitative elements, drawing on document analysis and stakeholder interviews. Findings indicate that SSbD can be effectively applied to green façade panels through a tiered, multi-criteria assessment that integrates hazard analysis, life cycle thinking and risk mitigation. Responsible design requires meeting minimum safety and sustainability thresholds, guided by precaution and transparency. The study calls for adapting SSbD to address the specific challenges of biobased materials and the evolving needs of the construction sector.