In 2025, Cefic-LRI completed six research projects involving 21 research institutes, delivering new scientific insights, tools and models to improve chemical assessments.
Together, these projects resulted in six scientific publications, 29 presentations, three tools and one database. One project was carried out in collaboration with Concawe, reinforcing cross sector scientific cooperation.
Since 1999, Cefic’s Long-range Research Initiative (LRI) has addressed key societal challenges through transparent, peer reviewed science. LRI has funded over more than 250 projects, supporting EU public health and environmental objectives by improving chemical risk assessments.
The 2025 completed projects focused on:
- exposure to micro‑ and nanoplastics,
- environmental fate and persistence of chemicals,
- and the regulatory use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
ECO55 evaluated the OECD Test Guideline 309, providing evidence based recommendations to improve the robustness and reproducibility of higher tier biodegradation testing by assessing the impact of sampling, storage and temperature on microbial activity.
MATCHING (C8) delivered the first multi-laboratory metabolomics ring trial designed for regulatory chemical grouping and read across, supporting ongoing work at ECHA and OECD on omics-based assessment frameworks.
The Bioaccumulation Assessment Tool (BAT) update, delivered jointly with Concawe, improved the tool’s scientific scope and usability, strengthening weight of evidence bioaccumulation assessments and supporting regulatory decision making.
Several projects advanced knowledge and tools to better assess emissions, exposure and environmental fate of micro- and nano- plastics (MNPs):
- DERM (B26) delivered a critical review of current scientific knowledge on dermal exposure and uptake of micro- and nano- plastics, identifying key data gaps and future research needs.
- EMIFACT‑MNP (ECO60) developed a European‑scale emissions model covering 30 countries and seven common polymers, providing lifecycle‑based emission factors from macro‑ to nano‑scale plastics.
- Cluster‑μp (ECO68) integrated multiple Cefic‑LRI microplastics projects into an updated version of the UTOPIA open‑source model, improving harmonised exposure predictions across environmental compartments.
These completed projects demonstrate how Cefic‑LRI continues to translate science into practical tools, models and guidance, addressing complex challenges to improve chemical safety assessments and their regulatory uptake.
The 2025 completed projects overview is available here.
