Sustainable production

The page was last modified:

To ensure your production process is sustainable you need to make sure it is as resource-efficient as possible. By making use of modern environmental technology and digitalisation, for example, you can achieve greater efficiency, save money and ensure lower environmental impact.

You can save on costs and reduce environmental impact by reviewing how much electricity, water, heating and materials you use and how you use them, enabling you to see where you can make improvements and where your efforts will be most useful. Recirculating water instead of bringing in fresh, reusing production waste or making use of waste heat or cooling for your own processes or those of nearby businesses are just some examples of what can be done. Your customers may often be willing to pay more for such measures – but it’s essential to clearly communicate how much better that makes the product from a sustainability or performance perspective.

Most businesses deal with some type of hazardous waste. All enterprises producing, transporting, collecting, processing and acting as intermediary or dealing in hazardous waste have an obligation to report information about this to the new Waste Registry of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
Report to the Waste Registry (naturvardsverket.se)

Questions to consider
  • What parts of your production process use the most energy, water, heat or chemicals and how can this be reduced?
  • How can you reduce waste or surplus material arising from production?
  • Can you reuse any of the surplus material in your process?
  • Which nearby companies could you collaborate with to share resources or make use of surplus material?
  • Can you produce your products or services in a new and smarter way compared to your competitors and what is traditional for the industry?
  • What equipment should you replace or purchase next? Investigate the potential for improving your resource efficiency.
  • Can you avoid stoppages in production though improved maintenance?
Links and detailed information

We have gathered information about eco-labelling and certification on verksamt.se
Eco-labelling and certification schemes

The Climate Leap initiative (Klimatklivet) provides support for local and regional climate investments. Your company can obtain support for specific climate initiatives within transport, industry, housing, premises, urban construction and energy, for example.
Klimatklivet – The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

IUC (Sweden’s industrial development centre) channels support and develops industrial companies.
Services and offers from IUC

Producer responsibility means that producers are responsible for recovering and dealing with end-of-life products. Find out more about this on the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency website.
Guidance on producer responsibility – Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has all the information you need about how and when to report notes on hazardous waste.
Report to the Waste Registry – Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

You can find information on the Swedish Energy Agency website about how to make energy use at your business more efficient.
Support and guidance on the Swedish Energy Agency website

What is sustainable fashion? And is it even possible? Mistra has released four films based on knowledge and results from the concluded Mistra Future Fashion research programme.
Making the fashion industry more sustainable – Film series highlighting research results – Mistra

 

Did you find this information helpful?

Responsible: Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth

Back to top