Plastic
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency works for a more sustainable use of plastic. These pages describe the environmental impacts of plastic pollution and outline measures and strategies that can support a more sustainable approach to plastic use.
Plastic is an important and versatile material used in many products, but the way it is currently produced and managed often leads to unsustainable environmental impacts. Plastic will continue to be essential for many critical uses, but it is crucial to redesign how we produce, use, and recycle it so that it supports long‑term sustainable development.
Plastic pollution is a global issue, which means that stronger regulations and policy measures must be developed both at regional, national and global levels. Since 2022, countries have been negotiating a global plastics agreement. In this process, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency supports the Government Offices by providing expert knowledge.
Plastic in Sweden – from production to recycling
To achieve sustainable plastic use, we must reduce overall plastic consumption, increase the reuse of products, and improve plastic recycling. It requires better understanding of how plastic is used and what happens to plastic waste. Currently, many plastic flows remain relatively linear in which a large share is incinerated.
The overarching goal is to shift towards more circular plastic flows, prioritising prevention, reuse, and material recycling, in order to reduce the need for virgin fossil-based plastic production.
Plastic litter
Littering and the volume of plastic waste are steadily increasing. Plastic is one of the most common types of litter. When plastic enters natural environments it can cause significant harm to animals, humans and the environment.
Burning of fossil-based plastic: A threat to climate goals
The largest share of the plastic used in Sweden is sent to waste incineration. Plastic production generates greenhouse gas emissions, but a substantial portion of the carbon remains stored in the product itself and is released only during incineration. To meet Sweden’s climate goals, these emissions must be reduced.
Bio-based plastic
A bio-based plastic is completely or partially manufactured from renewable raw materials, such as wood, corn or sugar beet. In contrast, conventional fossil-based plastic is made from raw oil and natural gas.
Roadmap for the sustainable use of plastics
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s roadmap for the sustainable use of plastics provides an overall picture and a guide for where we are going and what we mean by sustainable use of plastics.
National coordination for plastics
The National Plastics Coordination will facilitate and drive Sweden's transition towards a more sustainable use of plastics.