Growing environmental sector

The environmental sector in Sweden increased its exports by slightly more than 60 percent between 2003 and 2010. Total Swedish exports increased by almost 50 percent during the same time period. The turnover from the environmental sector increased by almost 60 percent in the same period.

During 2010 the establishments in the Swedish environmental sector had a total turnover of around SEK 230 billion. During the same period, exports amounted to slightly more than SEK 35 billion, which accounts for around 2 percent of the total Swedish exports. The Swedish environmental sector employed almost 70 000 persons during 2009 of whom about 50 000 were men.

Decrease for exports in the environmental sector

Exports in the environmental sector have increased at a faster rate than exports in Sweden on the whole (all sectors together) during the measured period, as shown in the figure below. Until 2009 the exports in the environmental sector increased every year. However, in 2010 a decrease occurred. The total exports in Sweden (for all sectors) showed a decrease even in 2009 but was back on the level of 2008 in 2010.

The largest decrease of the exports in the environmental sector occurred in the environmental areas Renewable Energy and Heat and energy saving.

Development of exports and turnover within the environmental sector as well as exports and GDP in the whole country, 2003-2010, current prices. (Base year = 2003)

Graph

Since 2003 the number of establishments in the environmental sector has increased by almost 30 percent and the number of employees by 13 percent. In 2010 there were around 15 000 establishments and in 2009 more than 70 000 persons were employed in the sector.

Turnover, exports and employment within the environmental sector, 2003-2010, current prices

	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Turnover (million SEK)	145 000	155 000	175 000	195 000	210 000	245 000	215 000	235 000
Export (million SEK)	23 000	25 000	29 000	31 000	35 000	38 000	40 000	37 000
Employed, total (number of)	61 000	64 000	66 000	67 000	70 000	71 000	69 000	n.a.

Renewable energy is the largest environmental area

Turnover and exports for the period 2003 2010 have been largest in the environmental area Renewable Energy. In 2010 this area accounted for nearly half of the turnover and almost a third of the exports in the environmental sector. Waste management and Recycled materials are other large areas concerning turnover and they account for around 13 percent each. Recycled materials also account for the second largest part of the export and 25 percent of the export in the environmental sector is found here.

In terms of employment Renewable Energy is also the second largest area with almost 14 000 persons employed in 2009. The largest environmental area in terms of employment is Waste Management with almost 15 500 persons.

Definitions and explanations

Since 2000, Statistics Sweden has developed a database of the Swedish environmental sector. The population is based on establishments and an enterprise can be made up of one or many establishments. In the database each establishment is classified by environmental area and by environmental share, i.e. how much of its total activity is considered to be environmental.

Statistics Sweden works according to and follows the definition given by Eurostat in the Eurostat manual ”The environmental goods and services sector – a data collection handbook”. In the handbook the following general definition of environmental sector is given: "The environmental goods and services industry consists of activities which produce goods and services to measure, prevent, limit, minimise or correct environmental damage to water, air, and soil as well as problems related to waste, noise and eco-systems. This includes cleaner technologies, products and services which reduce environmental risk and minimise pollution and resource use."