THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS TASKED WITH REGULARLY CONDUCTING evaluations of the progress being made towards the 16 Swedish environmental quality objectives and the generational goal. The in-depth evaluation for 2015 will provide a basis for:

• The government’s policies and priorities

• Public debate

• The planning and development of work relating to the environment by government

agencies

• Dialogue between stakeholders

As a basis for the 2015 evaluation, certain aspects of the overarching analysis were carried out within the framework of three selected focus areas:

• Environmental and climate-related efforts of the business sector

• Sustainable consumption

• Sustainable urban development

This report summarises the work being carried out within the framework of the focus area Sustainable consumption. By placing the spotlight on consumers in the transition, we highlight how different stakeholders in society can contribute to more environmentally compatible consumer behaviour and analyse how policies and instruments can incentivise environmentally sustainable choices and behaviour.

This report has been prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency’s experts, working closely with a working group consisting of representatives of the Energy Agency, Public Health Agency, Agency for Marine and Water Management, Chemicals Agency, Consumer Agency, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), National Food Administration, Society for Nature Conservation, County Administration Board of Gotland, RUS - Regional Development & Cooperation within the environmental objectives system, Forest Industries Federation, Trade Federation, Consumers’ Association and Region Västra Götaland. The Agency for Growth Policy Analysis and the County Administrative Board of Dalarna also contributed to the work. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for the content of the report.

The Agency would like to thank all the contributors for their commitment and contributions to this synthesis report. Eva Ahlner (project leader for the focus area ‘Sustainable consumption’) and Annica Carlsson (Section for Instruments, Natural Resources and Ecocycles) were responsible for writing this report.

Stockholm, October 2015

Björn Risinger

Director General