ECOPILOT: A Conversational PEF Copilot for Safe-and-Sustainable Furniture & Mattresses - From Data Gaps to Design Decisions

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is essential for safe and sustainable innovation, yet its uptake remains limited by data gaps, methodological complexity, and the lack of accessible digital tools. ECOPILOT addresses this challenge by developing a conversational, AI-enabled PEF Copilot that makes advanced sustainability assessment transparent, reproducible, and usable by SMEs and innovators, in line with the Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) framework.The project advances the state of the art in three areas: predictive proxy recommendation and CF estimation to close data gaps; prospective, EF-aligned datasets for emerging materials; and operationalisation of advanced methods including dynamic inventories, circularity modelling, uncertainty analysis, and Planetary Boundaries. These features are embedded in an interactive Copilot that guides users step-by-step, offering ranked suggestions, confidence indicators, and compliance-ready outputs such as Digital Product Passports (DPPs).Validation focuses on the furniture and mattress sectors, where pilots will target substitution of hazardous or restricted substances of concern, specifically coatings used on metal and wood parts, adhesives in furniture assembly, and flame retardants applied to textiles and foams. These cases represent urgent substitution needs in industry, combining regulatory pressure with high potential for safer, circular alternatives.By project end, ECOPILOT will reach TRL6, demonstrating both scientific progress and operational readiness. The outcome is a step-change in sustainability assessment: SMEs and innovators gain practical tools to make robust substitution and eco-design decisions, while policymakers and verifiers receive compliance-ready evidence aligned with ESPR, SSbD, and Green Claims.