Emissions to air and water

Labelling 

Check that there is a valid license for the product in question. This can be checked on each website: EU Ecolabel, Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

Self-declaration and calculation 

If the requirement has been verified with a self-declaration and calculation, request a current calculation from the supplier.

Self-declaration verified by an accredited verification body

If a verified self-declaration is used to prove that the requirement is fulfilled, request the supplier’s self-declaration, including documentation showing that the requirement is met. The self-declaration shall be verified by a verification body accredited for the task in accordance with ISO / IEC 17029 or equivalent standard.

There are currently a limited number of accredited verification bodies for ISO/IEC 17029 (Conformity assessment - General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodies) as it is a relatively new standard. This may change, especially if the demand for verifying compliance in this way increases. More information about the standard and accredited verification bodies can be found on Swedac's website.

During pulp and paper manufacturing, organic matter from wood is released into the wastewater. When organic matter degrades, oxygen is consumed in the water, which can affect plant and animal life negatively. The content of oxygen-consuming substances is measured as COD.

Phosphorus (P) occurs naturally in wood, but is also often added in facilities for biological treatment of wastewater. Input of phosphorus to water causes eutrophication, i.e. a higher growth rate of plants and algae in the water. When plants and algae die and sink to the bottom, oxygen is needed for decomposition. This can lead to oxygen depletion at the bottom and eventually cause dead zones on the sea floor.

Sulphur compounds, classed as sulphur (S), are formed during the combustion of sulphur-containing fuels and during the manufacturing process. Sulphur dioxide can be partially transformed in the atmosphere into the strong acid, sulphuric acid. This in turn contributes to the acidification of our natural environment, which among other things leads to fish death and leaching of nutrients from the soil. The acidification of the ground also increases the mobility of heavy metals.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are gases that form through the combustion of oxygen in the air and these gases can transform into nitric acid. The nitrogen content contributes to the acidification and eutrophication of the ground, forests and water.

The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.

2019-10-30, Krav ID 10144:1: The annex for calculation has been replaced with a reference to EU Ecolabel. Ecolabels reference values for calculation of emissions score have changed. This means that the core criteria is sharpened. The advanced level is new and on the same level as the new version of EU Ecolabel.

2011-09-15, Krav ID 10144: Original version