2024.02.19

Manifesto part 2 – Support for citizens and increased focus on recycling

The Applia Europe Manifesto for 2024, presented on 18 December 2023, is an ambitious roadmap with practical recommendations for decision-makers in the Union by 2030. To enable a climate-neutral Europe, the manifesto highlights the importance of energy-efficient household appliances as a key to progress. APPLiA delves below into the second part of the manifesto.

The European Parliament elections are approaching and in June 7.6 million Europeans will go to the polls to vote for the 720 members who will govern the Union for the next five years. APPLiA Europe has therefore developed a roadmap with practical recommendations for the European Commission, the European Parliament and national governments up to 2030. The plan is divided into three parts and you can find a more detailed description of part 1 – enabling the transition to a climate-neutral Europe here. In part two, we focus on supporting citizens in the green transition.

Recommendation 4: Reward and empower consumers with meaningful incentives

The manifesto's fourth recommendation calls for rewarding citizens when they reduce, optimize or decarbonize their own energy consumption.

— The proposal is in direct conflict with current Swedish legislation, where our households are instead penalized through the Electronics Tax. Incentives are needed to help and motivate consumers to replace older appliances with new, more energy-efficient products. The Electronics Tax discourages switching to new products by imposing up to SEK 670 in additional tax on purchases, says Viktor Sundberg, VP Environmental and EU affairs, Electrolux.

Recommendation 5: A European strategy for replacing old energy-intensive appliances

Proper management of resources in old appliances can be ensured, provided that all factors cooperate and work collectively in this massive organizational challenge. However, appliance replacement should consider the actual improvement in energy efficiency, the environmental footprint over the entire life cycle, the durability of the appliance and differences between product categories, according to the manifesto.

— It is always important to focus on energy consumption. Some products should be replaced as it benefits the environment instead of being repaired or recycled. This is partly because they are no longer energy efficient but also because they may contain prohibited substances such as freon, says Matts Spångberg, CEO APPLiA Sweden.

Sweden is also a leader in reuse and recycling thanks to the industry-wide company El-kretsen.

Recommendation 6: Support for low-income households to install energy-efficient appliances

Advanced, energy-efficient and sustainable technologies should be affordable for everyone. APPLiA Europe therefore proposes the introduction of support for low-income households to install energy-efficient appliances. The support should be based on national initiatives and, if necessary, financed and coordinated via the EU, according to APPLiA Chairman Kent Oderud.

— White goods are found in all households and energy-efficient products must not become a class issue if we are to achieve our common sustainability goals. We therefore welcome the proposal and see that for Sweden it could mean the introduction of Energy Saving Bonuses, which has proven to be successful in other European countries. But other tools to support and increase the proportion of energy-efficient household appliances must also be developed and rolled out. In addition, it must be made easy for consumers to choose the best possible alternative through a strict energy labelling system and a distinct Ecodesign strategy.

APPLiA Sweden is also working to change the requirements for procurement in large rental properties. The focus needs to shift from the lowest purchase price to energy efficiency. A higher purchase price can result in lower costs in the long run if energy consumption is included in the calculations.

"The benefits for the environment would be even greater with such a shift. But most importantly, we collectively do not leave a single Swedish household without the opportunity for the best possible energy efficiency for the necessary household appliances," concludes Kent Oderud, chairman of APPLiA Sweden.