“Performance” of a product, process, or system, has been a concept that has been narrowly defined in terms of how well something achieves a very specific goal. Perhaps it’s a dye being a particular shade of blue or a lubricant being able to reduce friction.  While performance has been focused on the desirable qualities, this has often come with undesirable or adverse unintended consequences.

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Benign-by-design builds all factors into the definition of performance such that inherent safety is also included along with function.