Press releases and news

Reuse of textiles is most important for the climate – wherever in the world it takes place
In a new study, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute has assessed the environmental, social and economic sustainability of different methods for handling textiles collected in Sweden. The study focused on reuse and recycling, both in and outside Europe, as well as incineration.

Project will combat energy poverty
Together with Eslöv Municipality and Energikontor Syd, IVL has been granted funding from Formas for a project on reducing the risk of energy poverty. The aim is to map how energy poverty can manifest itself and how municipalities can work to reduce it.

Award for development of safe and sustainable chemicals
ProScale, a tool that can be used to assess products' chemical risks from a life cycle perspective, has received an award from Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council. The award, in the category 'Time for Change', recognizes ProScale's contribution to the development of safe and sustainable chemicals.

COP29: Breakthrough for agreement on UN-supervised carbon market
Although the COP29 climate summit ended amidst heavy criticism, one important milestone was achieved: the approval of standards for a UN-supervised greenhouse gas market under Article Six of the Paris Agreement. After years of delays, the agreement marks a turning point, writes Kenneth Möllersten, senior researcher and expert on international climate policy.

Location key to how much air pollution children are exposed to
Where and how preschools are located in cities is a key factor in determining how much harmful air pollution the preschool children are exposed to. Even small differences in location within the same area can increase exposure to air pollution by as much as 25 per cent, new research shows.

Research into green, sustainable chemistry attracts greater international interest
Over the past four years, the IVL-led research programme Mistra SafeChem has made great progress in reducing exposure to substances hazardous to humans and the environment. The second phase of the programme is now under way, generating increased international interest.

Access to clean water in focus as IVL expands internationally
Access to clean water and sustainable sanitation solutions are in focus as IVL strengthens its international operations. About 20 experts currently working with water, sanitation, and hygiene at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) are transferring to IVL through an acquisition.

Innovative urban farming techniques tested in collaboration with restaurant
In collaboration with the Stockholm restaurant Urban Deli, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and KTH Food are launching a project to promote circular food production in urban environments. The project explores innovative technologies that can transform urban residual flows into food-producing resources.

New synthesis report on recycling and reuse of resources from wastewater
Wastewater contains many valuable resources that can be reused in households, agriculture and industry. Circular resource management is an important step towards a sustainable society and in increasing society's self-sufficiency and crisis preparedness. Although technologies in this area have been developed, they are not yet widely used in Sweden, according to a new report.

Can offshore wind power improve the Baltic Sea environment?
At several of the offshore wind farms under development in the Baltic Sea, the plan is to store the generated energy as hydrogen. This process generates large amounts of oxygen as a by-product. Researchers at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute have explored the possibility of using this resource to improve the environmental situation along the deep seabeds of the Baltic Sea.

Oyster reefs once thrived along Europe's coasts – now they're gone
Oysters once formed vast reefs along much of Europe's coastline – but these ecosystems were destroyed over a century ago, new research shows.

Green transition: New study shows Sweden's position in hydrogen race
A new study from IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute shows a significant increase in hydrogen technology patents worldwide after 2020, parallel to the emergence of national hydrogen strategies and global investments. Although Sweden has a small share of the global patents, it shows a relative competitive advantage comparable to France in fuel cell technology. However, in hydrogen production, storage and distribution, Sweden is significantly weaker.

A nudge in the right direction reduced tenants' electricity usage
Nudging has been tested as a way of changing consumption patterns of tenants in a residential area in Fjärås, Kungsbacka. A study undertaken as part of the European research project Enflate shows that the strategy produced good results when the load on the electricity grid was at its highest.

In Hamburg, wastewater treatment is a landmark and an inspiration
How do we best make use of the nutrients in wastewater? This was the focus of a trip to Hamburg, Germany, organized by IVL. Some 20 participants from Sweden studied advanced technologies for wastewater treatment, phosphorus recovery and biochar production.