2023.06.21

Have we done enough for the environment so far this year?

The Swedish presidency of the EU is drawing to a close and I inevitably ask myself the question: has Sweden taken sufficient initiatives for changes in the environmental field? The short answer is no. Although Sweden is being praised for having the controversial proposal for nature restoration voted through in the EU Council of Ministers, several important measures are missing now that the meeting minutes will soon be archived. For example, there has been no harmonisation in the chemicals area and special rules on chemicals tax, plastic bag tax and aviation tax remain within the Union.  

Despite this window of opportunity, Sweden has not proposed an expansion of prohibited substances within RoHS. Political greenwashing in the form of ineffective environmental taxes therefore remains. Partly as a result of politicians' inability to see the actual consequences of established laws, partly because not enough consumers are taking action on the issue and public opinion remains too weak to change politicians' positions. 

France and Belgium are examples of countries that advocate national specific rules in the common market. The latest initiative is an index for spare parts that will show how easy it is to repair the product as an extension of the ECO design directive. France is also discussing a ban on packaging with expanding polystyrene. For the free movement of goods, some form of trade barrier is always created when national specific rules are introduced. I would therefore have liked Sweden to have done more to counteract this during its presidency. 

 More positive for the industry is hopefully APPLiA's own initiatives at European level, via APPLiA Europe. We are involved in the work on microplastics, working for new energy labelling on vacuum cleaners and the consumer's right to have products repaired. APPLiA Europe is also participating in the EU's Sustainable Energy Week 2023. All this because we know that it is together, and in the larger perspective, that we can really make a difference.  

/Matts Spångberg, CEO APPLiA Sweden