In a new report commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Nordic Working Group for Circular Economy, Sweco recommends the governments of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland, as well as the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland, to implement more systematic waste prevention strategies to achieve regional and national sustainability goals. The report outlines practical measures to strengthen the circular economy in the Nordics, with a particular focus on waste prevention and reuse.

As global climate and biodiversity challenges intensify, the Nordic Council of Ministers has engaged Sweco to provide expert recommendations on accelerating waste prevention across the region. The project, which centres on municipal waste, was conducted by a team of Sweco experts from Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

“As a trusted European advisor in sustainability, Sweco is uniquely positioned to support the Nordic Council of Ministers in reviewing and enhancing existing policies and programmes, and in providing recommendations based on best practise. The report’s main takeaway is that while waste prevention is a priority in the Nordic countries, a clear need exists for systematic, robust measures to turn these policies into tangible outcomes,” said Thomas Hietto, Business Area President of Sweco Finland.

The report draws on international best practices and evaluates a range of effective economic instruments that could be adopted by the Nordic countries, such as targeted fees on fast fashion, VAT reductions for second-hand trade and repair services, and R&D funding for innovative circular business models.

“The Nordic countries are well-positioned to take the next steps in waste prevention and reuse, and Sweco is excited to provide the Nordic Council of Ministers with recommendations for this transition. Sweco’s report provides critical insights on how the Nordic countries can advance their waste management systems from traditional recycling to a fully integrated circular economy. This approach addresses the entire product value chain and makes it easier for citizens to make sustainable choices,” said Hietto.
 

The report is found here. In the report to the Nordic Council of Ministers, Sweco concludes that:

• Stronger policy instruments are necessary to improve waste prevention, such as regulatory and economic measures including taxes, fees and bans.
• Steering instruments should target the entire product value chain, rather than focusing solely on the end-of-life stage. 
• Sustainable consumer choices need to be made more attractive.
   

Background:
The Nordic Cooperation’s Vision 2030 is to turn the Nordic region into the most sustainable and integrated region in the world, and the Nordic countries have programs and plans in place that include improved waste management as one element of realising that vision. In addition to the Nordic ambitions, there are several recent EU regulations focusing on minimising waste in several segments of product value chains. 

Related information:
Over time, Sweco has been supporting the Nordic Sustainable Construction, which is a programme under the Nordic Council of Ministers, with several reports within task 4 and 5 of the Nordic Harmonisation of Life Cycle Assessment programme.

Press photos:

• Photo of people handling (recycled) clothes. Free use, please credit: Getty Images/Maskot.
• Photo of Sweco Finland's Thomas Hietto. Free use, please credit: Tobias Regell