Press releases and news

IVL behind the Chinese environmental legislation in the Volkswagen lawsuit
Recently, Swedish media reported that a Chinese environmental organization is suing Volkswagen's Chinese import company for their import of diesel vehicles with manipulated software. The lawsuit is the first of its kind and is based on an updated environmental legislation that IVL has contributed to.

A climate-smart shift in transport systems
The transport sector is still far from achieving the climate targets. Emissions trends point steeply upwards while the necessary emission reductions are pointing just as steep downhill. How can we speed up the transition to an energy efficient and climate-friendly transport system?

The EU-strategy for circular economy is "An important step forward even if some parts are missing"
The European Commission's new platform concerning circular economy has been criticized for not being ambitious enough. Åsa Stenmarck, waste expert at IVL, still sees a lot of value in the strategy - having a greater focus on eco-design and including several measures to increase the recovery and enable companies to create more environmentally friendly products.

The climate agreement - here are the arguments you need for the Christmas dinner debate
The world's first global climate change has been accepted. It is a historic event and it is hopefully a major topic for conversation at Christmas dinner this year. IVL's experts on international climate policy and energy, Lars Zetterberg and Markus Wråke, were in Paris. Here they share statements on the Paris agreement you can expect to hear, and what you need to know to outmaneuver your grandmother or impress your boyfriend, and as a bonus emanate a little light to your side of the debate.

Dirty plastic containers hamper our sorting efforts
Ice cream packages, plastic bags, sour cream cans and toothpaste tubes. We bring home large quantities of plastic packaging every year, but we need to be better at sorting them.

86 kg waste produced by a single mobile phone
A mobile phone gives rise to 86 kg of waste material, in the form of for instance mining waste and slag products. The cost of climate emissions for the same phone is estimated to 140 Swedish Crowns. The finished cell phone weighs about 169 grams and costs about 6 000 Swedish Crowns.

New report shows that Uganda can become 100 percent renewable by 2050
In a new report a scenario with 100 percent renewable energy future for Uganda is presented. According to the report, modern energy services can be rolled-out to the whole population by 2030, and by 2050 a modern energy system based on renewable energy sources can be achieved. The report is published by WWF Uganda Country Office and was developed by a team of researchers led by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute.

Emissions Trading focus for IVL at the Climate Summit in Paris
November 30th is the starting date for the United Nations 21st conference on climate change, COP21, held in Paris. Several IVL researchers, active in the Mistra Indigo research program, are scheduled to participate. Lars Zetterberg will discuss the importance of functioning emissions trading markets.

Biomass burning in Eastern Europe pollute the air in the Nordic countries
Large-scale biomass burning in Eastern Europe is an important source for polluted air over the northern hemisphere. Over the past decade several major fires, especially in southern Russia, have affected air quality and have had serious consequences for human health and ecosystems in the Nordic countries.

Breakthrough for measuring traffic emissions with new samplers
A fifth of all municipalities in Sweden exceed the threshold for nitrogen dioxide stipulated in the environmental quality standard. But long-term measurement of nitrogen oxide levels at street level is costly and resource demanding. Now IVL can offer air quality monitoring with a new type of diffusion sampler.

New certification scheme to double the collection of used textiles
Textile consumption is on the increase in the Nordic countries, however the majority of used textiles end up in the rubbish bin. A new, voluntary certification scheme that within ten years will lead to a doubling of the collection of used textiles is now being assessed. Tests are being carried out by a number of fundraising organizations in the Nordic region, including Myrorna in Sweden.

New project will reduce food waste in Europe
One third of all food produced is thrown to  waste, which makes it the third largest emission source of greenhouse gases. The 16th of September 2015 marked the start of the EU Horizon 2020 funded project "Resource Efficient Food and drink for the Entire Supply chain" (REFRESH), which will run from July 2015 to June 2019. The project aims to reduce food waste in Europe by 30 percent by 2025. The partnership involves 26 partners from twelve European countries and China.

New environmental service will facilitate healthier job commuting and better school environments
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute will install multiple sensors to measure air and noise pollution around Gothenburg. These sensors will allow users to see the levels of air pollution they are exposed to and enable them to make active choices concerning health risks, for example, by planning their itineraries.

Shifting to a low carbon transport system
The Nordic Energy Research has commissioned IVL 28 million SEK to lead a so called flagship project focusing on energy efficient transport systems. Shift, Sustainable Horizons for Transport, will run for four years and investigate the potential for the Nordic countries to enable a sustainable transport system.

New project shows how our eating habits affect the environment
To what extent do our eating habits impact the climate? In a new project, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute examines the environmental implications of altered diets in Sweden.

New business models can reduce the building sector's climate impact
The carbon footprint left by construction work is equivalent to that of private motoring. But a study by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute shows that it is possible to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from construction and demolition equipment with the help of circular business models. The greatest potential can be found in the installation and construction sectors and all actors in the construction process are important if emissions are to be reduced.

Biocoal to reduce steel industry's emissions of climate gases
The steel company SSAB, together with a consortium led by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, is to explore the possibility of replacing fossil fuels with biocoal.

IVL heads international working group to address chemicals in the indoor environment
For many years IVL has been a member of the European Norman Network that addresses emergent pollutants, i.e., substances currently found in the environment but whose presence and significance are only now being elucidated. Norman has now launched a working group, led by IVL, to address issues of the indoor environment.

New policy instruments for improved plastic waste recycling
policy instruments designed to increase the recycling of plastics in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Web app visualizes forest biomass and flows of mass and energy
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute has developed a web-application that visualizes the flows of mass and energy between different industrial processes that rely on forest biomass.

Whitefish monitoring programme off to a promising start
The Swedish Inland Fishermen’s Federation has commissioned IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute to develop a proposal for a self-monitoring programme for the whitefish fishery in Lake Vänern and Vättern.

New collaborative research will improve air quality in vehicles
What are the main sources of air pollution in vehicle compartments? What is the driver’s air quality like, and most importantly – how can it be improved? In a new project IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Volvo and the University of Gothenburg will attempt to find the answers.

New knowledge report about drug residues in sewage treatment plants
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, together with its partners, KTH, Stockholm Water and Syvab has published a knowledge report that reveals how wastewater can be purified from drug residues.

Åsa Romson visited Cityfied’s pilot project in Lund
On May 6, Sweden's climate and environment minister Åsa Romson (Swedish Green Party) visited Lund to learn more about climate-smart and eco-friendly projects. One of the projects she visited was Cityfied’s pilot in Linerö that aims to upgrade the 70’s housing in the area.

Major investment in resource and waste research
IVL will participate in a new, long-term research programme for sustainable resource and waste management. Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency, and Formas are to jointly invest SEK 430 million in five new strategic innovation programmes in which industry, academia and the public sector working together will create the conditions for sustainable solutions to global societal challenges.

“Paris will deliver a climate deal”
– We will reach a climate agreement in Paris, and it will initiate a battery of measures to drive change, said Anna Lindstedt, the Swedish climate Ambassador, at a climate meeting in Washington organized by the IVL-led research programme Mistra Indigo.

Organic food reduced amount of pesticide in family
KF – The Swedish Cooperative Union, a federation of 41 consumer cooperative societies, commissioned IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute to determine whether eating organic foods can reduce levels of pesticides in the body. The study was carried out in a family with three children who do not usually eat organic food. The most significant change in pesticide levels was found in the family's children.

New report: How different policy instruments impact consumption
Researchers at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute have been commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency to compile a list of some thirty appraised policy instruments designed to promote more sustainable household consumption patterns. The survey shows that congestion taxes, green car premiums and differentiated vehicle taxes have all been successful financial control mechanisms for reducing environmental impact.