With the early assessment of sustainable, newly developed chemicals and products it is possible to assess a potential risk of toxic substances being released at a later point in product cascades. This has been revealed in a proof-of-concept study jointly coordinated by Goethe University Frankfurt and RWTH Aachen University. In the course of the study the toxicity of sustainable biosurfactants and of a new technology for the economical deployment of plant protection agents were analysed using computer modelling and laboratory experiments. The study is the first step towards a safe bioeconomy from an eco-toxicological stance.