Press releases and news

International expert group proposes global target for air quality
A global environmental target on air pollution and a powerful mobilization of resources to improve air quality in low-income countries. This is what researchers and decision-makers propose in a report from the international workshop Saltsjöbaden VII, organized by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute.

Research project to identify sustainable measures that can prevent damage from extreme weather events
Extreme weather with heavy rainfall is becoming increasingly common and is threatening cities and communities. In a new research project in Sweden and Norway, the most economically and environmentally sustainable measures to climate-proof residences will now be identified. The project is led by CICERO, Center for International Climate Research, in collaboration with IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and If Insurance.

The Arctic in the heat of the moment
It's early June and the air is clear in Helsinki, but the scientists gathered here through a project following up work under the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme see clouds piling up in the horizon. Not only are forest fires in Canada engulfing North America in smoke, but Arctic temperatures are rising steadily, not least geo-politically.

IVL assist SKF to analyze the environmental impact of bearing business in China
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and the company SKF have established a strategic partnership to collaborate on low-carbon environmental initiatives and innovative practices within the company’s bearing business in China.

Strategic cooperation agreement signed with EPD focus
In June, China Power Complete Equipment Company, together with its subsidiary Power (Beijing) Certification Centre (PCCC), visited IVL's Stockholm office to share expertise and to sign a strategic cooperation agreement with IVL. The agreement means that IVL in China will work on developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for a large number of renewable energy products.

Report highlights actions to advance green technologies in Nordic region
Economic instruments to advance green technology in the Nordic countries are far from cost-effective, according to research conducted by IVL Sweden Environmental Research Institute on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Study reveals sustainability benefits of Swedish wool
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute has analysed the sustainability of Swedish wool. The results indicate that Swedish wool production can have lower climate impact and several other positive effects compared to wool production in other countries. The study has been carried out within The Swedish Wool Initiative led by Axfoundation.

New ranking: Best in Sweden at climate change adaptation
Norrköping is this year's best climate change adaptation municipality, according to the latest survey from IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and Insurance Sweden. The results also show that the rate of increase previously seen in climate change adaptation seems to have stopped.

We will see more treatment of PFAS-contaminated water in the future
Foam fractionation, nanofiltration, ozonation, ion exchange, pulverized or granulated activated carbon. There are several different techniques for separating PFASs, and they are under constant development. The PFAS experts at IVL are driving the technology forward with the help of test pilots.

Tests reveal widespread emissions cheating
Despite stricter regulations, many cars and trucks still emit too much nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. This is according to the IVL-led EU project CARES, which has carried out extensive vehicle exhaust emissions in European cities. The tests also show that many trucks have manipulated emission control systems – a phenomenon that increases at night.

The knowledge gap between research and application must be reduced
Because PFASs are so easily dispersed in the environment, regional and international cooperation is needed. And knowledge must be spread. Mayumi Narongin Fujikawa coordinates much of IVL's PFAS work, and leads several national and international PFAS projects.

PFAS analysis: Without interpretation you can be completely lost
PFAS is becoming a widely recognized concept, and more and more businesses are working to reduce the spread of PFAS in various ways. But to be sure that a product or an environmental sample is PFAS-free, analysis is required – and this is not entirely straightforward.This is according to Ioannis Liagkouridis, researcher and project manager at IVL's laboratory in Stockholm.

Supporting sustainable food production in China
In collaboration with China Chain Store and Franchise Association (CCFA) and Institute of Agriculture Economics and Development, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute is engaged in the project SAFE to support sustainable agriculture food production in China. The aim is to reduce food loss and packaging, as well as the use of pesticide and fertilizers.

Green transition places new demands on the workplace
A sustainable working environment is an important puzzle piece in the green transition. As Sweden makes this transition, both workplaces and duties are changing, and this results in new challenges in the work environment. On World Day for Safety and Health at Work, Anneli Julander, one of IVL's work environment researchers, shared some thoughts on the future.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Rugao Biogas Pilot Project
In the end of March, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for a biogas pilot project now starting up in the city Rugao in China. In the project organic wastes such as sludge and food waste from Rugao City, will be collected and turned in to biogas and provide green energy for the Scania factory in the city.

Wood-burning the right way – to reduce health risks
For many, a wood fire is the epitome of home comfort. But the air pollutants, such as particles and soot, emitted as a result of wood-burning affect both human health and the environment. As more people resort to wood-burning due to rising electricity prices, we need more knowledge and information about how to avoid unnecessary air pollution.

Recycling and energy recovery in Namibia
Windhoek, Namibia, is one of the cleanest cities in Africa, second to Kigali, and is set to regain its number-one status. Since 2009, the citizens have started sorting out plastic bottles, cartons, paper and glass, which go for recycling. Now, the city of Windhoek, together with waste experts at IVL and Smart City Sweden, is investigating how waste that is not recycled can be used for energy.

Smart water monitoring, thanks to new invention
Climate change and urbanization are making it more challenging for cities to manage wastewater, stormwater and flooding. Researchers at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute have developed an invention that uses sensors and AI to monitor water and to better prepared to rapidly manage various changes.

Meeting on air pollution brings scientists and negotiators together from around the world
Air pollution is the greatest environmental risk to human health. From March 13, 200 experts, scientists, and negotiators from around the world will meet in Gothenburg to strengthen international efforts to improve air quality. Organised under the framework of the Swedish EU Presidency, the seventh meeting of the Saltsjöbaden Air Science and Policy Workshop will be themed around “Air pollution management in a world under pressure”.

EU research project finds high nitrogen oxides emissions of Tier III vessels
The EU research project SCIPPER has found high nitrogen oxides emissions of Tier III vessels from remote measurement in the Baltic Sea and North Sea. The analysis shows that 50 per cent of the emission measurements of ships that had to comply with the latest Tier III nitrogen levels, far exceed the expected emission levels.

Swedish delegation in India for Smart City Roadshow
In February Swedish representatives from companies, academia and authorities visited three Indian cities to strengthen the cooperation between Sweden and India and share knowledge in innovation and sustainable city solutions.

Better air and less traffic noise in children's outdoor environment
Preschool children are a vulnerable group, and far too often they are subject to both traffic noise and air pollution. At four preschool playgrounds in Gothenburg, air and noise measurement is underway; the aim is to learn how natural solutions like embankments, trees and vegetation-covered fences can improve the children's outdoor environment.

Research project converts food waste into new food products
Researchers at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute are leading an initiative to develop new food products by using side flows from the production of vegetables and beef. The aim is to increase resource efficiency and profitability in the Swedish food sector by offering innovative food products.

Europe's capacity for textile recycling mapped
There is a huge potential to scale up the sorting and recycling of old textiles in Europe. This is shown by a survey of around 30 actors in the sorting and recycling of post-consumer textiles, which has been carried out within the research project Sustainable clothing futures. The actors are located all over Europe and have promising techniques to be able to take care of our textile waste.

Indian delegation visited Sweden
This week Smart City Sweden, in collaboration with Business Sweden, the Swedish Energy Agency, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and CII – Indian Green Building Council, welcomed an Indian delegation to Sweden for three days. The goal was to identify potential areas of collaboration, share expertise and exchange knowledge.

International conference on transport and related impacts on air pollution, environment, and climate
Two major transport conferences – International Transport and Air Pollution and Shipping and the Environment – will arrange a joint scientific conference in Gothenburg later this year. The conference will provide a broad discussion forum for questions related to the impacts of transport sector on all parts of the environment including the atmosphere, terrestrial ecosystems, the marine environment, and the climate.

Researchers find scrubber water harmful at the tiniest of concentrations
When researchers in the EU-funded project Emerge studied the effect of scrubber water on aquatic organisms, they found harmful effects even at the tiniest of concentrations. The findings add new insights to the problem with ships' exhaust gas cleaning systems – known as scrubbers – that allow ships to continue to use cheaper heavy fuel oil while still complying with the 2020 sulphur emissions rules.

Tonnes of fishing gear is lost at sea every year
On behalf of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, and with funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute has calculated the annual loss of fishing gear in the Nordic countries. The study points to a huge environmental challenge, where knowledge is generally low.

Hydrogen – climate hype or climate hope?
Everyone is talking about hydrogen. But what do the researchers say – is hydrogen the answer to the climate crisis? IVL's hydrogen experts Ali Hedayati, Anders Hjort and Julia Hansson explain where the research stands today and what the future may look like for hydrogen as a fossil-free energy source.

Air pollution is estimated to cause 6,700 premature deaths in Sweden each year
Air pollution is estimated to cause 6,700 premature deaths in Sweden each year. This is shown by the latest study carried out by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and Umeå University on behalf of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Each death is estimated to be equivalent to a loss of ten years of life.

COP27: Pathways to sustainable building markets through credible, lifecycle-based information
This week IVL and the subsidiary EPD International are organizing a side event at the UN Climate Conference, COP27, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The event will demonstrate how life cycle assessment and product declarations can be used in the construction sector to achieve emission targets in Egypt, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Several projects focusing on clean water in Mumbai
IVL's work focused on SDG 6 – Clean water and sanitation – continues in India. Currently, IVL is working as an environmental consultant in several projects related to clean water in Mumbai, for example the Mithi River Rejuvenation Projects aiming to reduce the pollution load of the Mithi River and restore it to its original state.

Marie Fossum Strannegård: The energy crisis has been a wake-up call
In the spring of 2022, we were reminded of the vulnerability of the global energy system. At the same time, Russia's war on Ukraine has accelerated the phasing out of fossil gas, and many of us have started hunting kilowatt-hours. With a background in the energy sector, IVL's CEO Marie Fossum Strannegård knows the importance of a secure and sustainable energy supply.

Biogas is more than energy
Inside the three green-brown digesters at the Gryaab wastewater treatment plant in Gothenburg, it is warm, brown and bubbly. Sludge from wastewater and fat from restaurants and other large-scale kitchens are blended, fermenting for a few weeks. Out comes biogas, certified fertilizer and maximized environmental benefits.

LENS – a new EU project on noise and air pollution
How can we reduce noise and air pollution in our cities? The EU project LENS aims to assist enforcement authorities, cities, and regulators to decrease noise and air pollution from vehicles like mopeds and motorcycles. The project will carry out measurements in several European cities. IVL will develop test techniques and methods for measuring emissions under real driving conditions, including small particles that are particularly harmful to health.

Entire climate system is studied in a new EU project
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute is participating in a newly launched EU project which will take a holistic approach to the interaction between impacts, risks, adaptation and measures against climate change. The aim is to break the silo approach, so that integrated assessments can be conducted.

European project shows how flexibility from the district heating sector can add values to the energy system
The transformation of the energy sector increases the need for various flexibility services to maintain a balance between energy use and production. The EU Flexi-Sync project has explored how the flexibility available in district heating networks can be optimised and contribute with values for the energy system.

Offsetting for carbon neutrality – getting the claims right
In a blog post for the EU-project LIFE DICET researchers from IVL and Perspectives Climate Group explain why voluntarily seeking so-called “corresponding adjustments” is a matter of whether an actor wants to voluntarily help to close the ambition gap to contribute to the global 1.5-degree goal. To get claims about offsetting and carbon neutrality right, a global accounting approach must be applied.

Policy priorities for mobilizing investment in Swedish green industrial transitions
A new report by Stockholm Sustainable Finance Centre at SEI, IVL and RISE investigates the key challenges for investments in technological and production changes that bring deep emissions cuts in heavy industry in Sweden. According to the study, what the industry demands is policy focus on issues related to creating market demand and ensuring that the necessary infrastructure is in place.