What we do and whom we serve

Major investment in circular and resource-efficient process industry

In the EU’s Retrofeed project, which is being coordinated by IVL, six heavy industries in sectors such as steel and cement are being made more energy-efficient and are switching to renewable raw materials and energy sources. This is being done using both improved equipment and the development of control systems. “Digital twins” are also being developed to provide decision-making support.

New calculation of eutrophication sources in the Baltic sea and the North Sea

Agricultural and forest land are the two largest sources of the overall nitrogen and phosphorus loads on the sea. If we look solely at man-made emissions, agriculture accounts for the largest proportion, followed by discharges from wastewater treatment plants. This can be seen from a report from the SMED collaboration, in which IVL is participating. The report is based on the most accurate mapping carried out to date of Sweden’s emissions of eutrophying substances into the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.

March

Deficiencies in the safety culture impeding the zero vision for occupational accidents

The work aimed at increasing safety and creating a good working environment in the steel industry and the pulp and paper sector has been continuing for decades, and many improvements have been made. Despite this, occupational injuries and serious incidents still occur. A report from IVL has studied the reasons for this. The results show that working environment activities are often deficient when safety becomes a matter of raising or lowering the priority of issues that are related to safety considerations in certain situations. Some workplaces are also characterised by a persisting macho culture.

Many items we throw away can be reused

1,000 tonnes of furniture, 200 tonnes of tools and 60 tonnes of clothing – every year, households leave a great many things at recycling centres that can actually be reused. Two reports that IVL has produced for Södertälje municipality show that there is considerable potential to increase the level of reuse. In order for this to happen, however, more opportunities are required for reuse that is close to the home, the workplace and consumers.

Which bag is best for the environment?

One recurring consumer issue during the year was which type of bag is best for the environment – paper, plastic or cotton. The answer is not always that simple, however. A study conducted by IVL on behalf of UNEP shows that geographical differences can be a determining factor. How much of an impact a bag has on the environment depends on how the material is produced and how the bag is dealt with when it has become waste. In Sweden, for example, paper bags might be better for the climate than plastic bags, because our plastic bags are relatively heavy and because paper production is powered by renewable energy. The very best solution for the environment is to use the bags you already have at home and use them many times over. In that way, there is no need to produce new bags.