Meet the partners: IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute

IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) brings to the BioSusTex project an impressive breadth of expertise in life cycle assessment, sustainable chemical management, and Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD). With a multidisciplinary team of experts and a commitment to bridging science, policy and industry, IVL plays a pivotal role in advancing the project’s vision of a more sustainable textile sector.

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The IVL team in BioSusTex is led by Amanda Lundberg, project manager and main contact point, who contributes her experience in chemical compliance and life cycle-based risk assessment. Supporting the project from a strategic and technical standpoint is Dr. Tomas Rydberg, a senior expert in LCA and SSbD, who oversees the development of the ProScale methodology, a tool to assess toxicity-related sustainability impacts across product life cycles.

On the environmental sustainability side, IVL's work focuses on assessing the environmental impacts and upscaling potential of emerging textile technologies. Dr. Olga Lysenko leads coordination efforts within this area, guiding the sustainability screening and techno-economic evaluations. She is supported by Dr. Sahar Safarianbana, who focuses on LCA and process upscaling for technologies developed in WP1 and WP2, and Matilda Lidfeldt, who brings extensive experience in LCA of textiles and concentrates on evaluating PFAS-free biobased coatings in WP3. Dr. Érika Mata contributes climate scenario modelling expertise, aligning environmental assessments with planetary boundaries and global climate targets. Dr. Nilay Elginoz Kanat adds depth through her work on Social LCA, assessing social implications and supporting early-stage design upscaling of sustainable textile technologies.

The toxicity assessment work is carried out by a specialised team developing and applying the ProScale methodology to evaluate chemical risks throughout product life cycles. Pernilla Andersson leads this effort, coordinating the toxicity model team and contributing her expertise in sustainability assessment of chemicals. Dr. Stathis Reppas supports method development through modelling of chemical fate, impacts and planetary boundary integration. Therese Kärnman brings expertise in chemical legislation and LCA, strengthening the connection between regulatory frameworks and toxicity indicators. Nicklas Hillgren contributes as a software developer, advancing ProScale’s digital tools and system integration. Dr. Rosella Telaretti Leggieri, with a background in polymer science and industrial chemistry, supports SSbD-aligned impact assessments of chemical and material innovations.

IVL’s expectations for BioSusTex include strengthening methodological capabilities in SSbD, expanding their applied research in sustainable textiles and building strong collaborations across Europe. The project also offers the opportunity to test and further develop the ProScale methodology, a tool IVL has been refining since 2015, in a real-world innovation context. The challenges IVL aims to tackle include expanding the coverage of toxicity impacts in life cycle assessments, addressing conceptual gaps around chemical carrying capacity and improving data availability for early-stage textile technologies. This work is well aligned with IVL’s broader mission, which includes promoting a sustainable chemical transition, working across all three dimensions of sustainability (environmental, social, economic) and fostering collaboration for impact. BioSusTex contributes directly to IVL’s vision of driving sustainable change through research, innovation and practical tools.

IVL is particularly excited about the collaborative spirit of the BioSusTex consortium, the opportunity to work with passionate and knowledgeable partners and the potential to contribute meaningfully to the transformation of the textile industry.