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The EU procured for roughly 202000 MEUR (14% of the EU GDP) during 2021 in the public sector. The majority of these contracts are traditional, linear business model purchases. The EU has been developing several strategies, guidelines, and policies for sustainable purchasing, with Circular Public Procurement for a Circular Economy (CE) being one of them, but the implementation rate is low. Electron
Forests and forest products are important, not just for timber production, the forest ecosystem plays several important roles, such as water purification, carbon sequestration for climate mitigation and recreational values. How the forests are managed varies throughout the globe, in Sweden the most used system is the clearcutting system (CF), however continuous cover forestry (CCF) is gaining popu
It is important to look more deeply into how forest owners choose to manage their forests. If Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) can be a suitable way for some forest owners to work with nature conservation management, and if it could work as a tool in their forest production today. This is because silvicultural methods can have a significant impact on the climate and the country's economy. In th
This study examines the potential of a nutrient-based emissions trading system and focuses on its possible implementation in the Baltic Sea region to address the problem with eutrophication in the inland sea. Emissions trading has proven to be an effective method for reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the EU through the EU ETS. The study evaluates whether similar outcomes can be achieved
Metals and minerals are prerequisites for a modern and climate-neutral society. Domestic mining facilities are also an essential part of the Swedish national economy. Sweden has a unique bedrock and is one of Europe's largest producers. However, the willingness to invest in the Swedish mining industry has dropped over the last decade. The main reason for this is the complication and uncertaint
The summer of 2018 was a reality check for many when several heat waves made the temperature rise above normal in Sweden. Especially in urban areas, where heat can be stored more easily in the building materials, the temperature was extreme due to the creation of urban heat islands. Today these areas can be detected with a tool for mapping urban heat islands. The aim of this study is to examine h
The forest contributes multiple services, among others renewable materials, carbon sequestration, and recreational value. This thesis studied the effects on forestry stemming from the revised Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry regulation. The question is how reduced logging, which is in line with the new regulation, affects social welfare when incorporating the benefits of ecosystem services.
Overconsumption of clothing is an active environmental concern. The clothing industry is responsible for ten percent of global carbon emissions and has a history of exploiting land, social resources and people’s fundamental needs of belonging to increase their sales and encourage overconsumption. This study uses a literature review and a wardrobe study in order to determine the underlying factors
By all accounts, the global climate as well as the Swedish climate will become warmer for the foreseeable future, with consequences that have largely not been experienced before in northern countries. More intense and longer heat waves will become a more common phenomenon, and with that, Swedish municipalities need to be prepared for the effects. As municipalities are responsible for much of the b
Emissions of greenhouse gases through human activities, predominantly in sectors such as energy production, land use, lifestyle, and production, are continuing to warm the planet to unsustainable degrees. An important way to regain control of the situation is a worldwide adjustment in the way we produce energy, from fossil fuels to sustainable and renewable energy sources. An example of such a ren
Algae blooms, induced by eutrophication, have been an increasingly prevalent environmental concern in the Baltic Sea since the 1970s, causing ecosystem degradation and hypoxia in bottom layers. One predominant harmful algae bloom-forming species in the Baltic Sea is the cyanobacteria Nodularia spumigena. N. spumigena produces hepatotoxin nodularin and is a diazotrophic alga; hence, it should be
This study was conducted on blue mussels, Mytilus edulis trossulus, to investigate how the blue mussels have been affected by the bunker oil following the oil spill from the ferry Marco Polo. The study will examine the impact of bunker oil on the physiology and behavior of the blue mussel. The blue mussel is one of the key species in the Baltic Sea and serves as an indicator species, making it sui
Ensuring food safety is an international goal and the Swedish national authority for food has just implemented a new system for risk-based food control. The new system for analyzing food businesses in a risk-based evaluation is based on EU-directives. The directive aims to use risk factors to evaluate food businesses when municipalities plan food safety inspections. In the former system for risk-b
The aim of this literature study was to review the effects that climate change has on the intensification of eutrophication in lakes, specifically in a temperate climate. Furthermore, the latest research on the connection between greenhouse gas emissions and eutrophication in lakes was reviewed to explore the synergistic relationship between the two processes. In summary, the results were that the
Environmental pollution stems from industrial emissions to the air, soil and water. This has resulted in many areas being contaminated today by, among other things, heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons and PAHs. Approximately 86.000 contaminated sites have been identified across Sweden. Identifying contaminated sites enables inventory and risk classification. Therefore, the method for the inventor
Circular public procurement has the potential of supporting the transition towards a circular economy. Public purchases of IT are responsible for a significant amount of Sweden’s total public procurement emissions. However, IT product’s climate impact can also be greatly reduced through circular strategies. With the goal of inspiring and guiding public procurement officers and decision makers to p
Biodiversity-, and ecosystems face the risk of being lost due to human impact through land exploitation, and transport emissions from tourism, but also from the negative impacts of climate change. Öland has several protected areas with its unique landscapes, and high natural values. Which has attracted several visitors to the island. This study presents a comprehensive investigation on which confl
To sustain a good environment, it is crucial for businesses to be aware of the environmental laws and regulations. However, many smaller businesses and actors may struggle to comply with the complex regulations, which can lead to potential environmental harm. The aim of this study is to investigate the handling of hazardous waste by smaller businesses and if they have necessary knowledge about the
A regular consumption of food contaminated with heavy metals can pose a threat to the general health of the human population. The contents of these toxic metals in crops depend on several different factors including the acidity of the soil as well as the addition of contaminated fertilizer. In this study, health risk assessments for broad beans (Vicia faba) were made for six different growing cond
In this thesis work the potential of compost as a sustainable alternative to peat as soil amendment was investigated. Peat extraction has substantial negative environmental impacts, but concerns exist about potential contaminant accumulation in compost. Four soil amendments, one sourced from a Scanian municipality and three commercially available, were analyzed for the presence of 10 metals, 35 PF
