Environmental protection expenditures in Swedish industry increased by almost SEK 1.1 billion during 2011 compared to the year before. The increase is nearly the same for investment and that for current expenditure in environmental protection. Total environmental protection costs for Swedish industry last year amounted to nearly SEK 12 billion.
Environmental protection refers to activities that aim to prevent, reduce or eliminate pollution or other deterioration of the environment. The cost for industry is divided into either investments or current expenditures.
The total investment in environmental protection amounted to SEK 5.0 billion during 2011, an increase of 11 percent compared to the previous year. The sector for electricity, gas and hot water supply had the most investments in environmental protection, or almost SEK 1.7 billion during 2011.
The current expenditures amounted to almost SEK 7.0 billion, which is an increase of 9 percent. The sector for electricity, gas and hot water supply has the highest current expenditures at nearly SEK 1.3 billion.
Highest investment for air purity
About half of the investments of SEK 5.0 billion during 2011 were devoted to air purity measures such as the installation of filters. Investments within the water area accounted for 33 percent of the investments while waste investments accounted for 4 percent.
The sector for chemicals, pharmacy base products and medicine had the highest increase of total investments in environmental protection between 2010 and 2011. The main part of these investments of SEK 246 million was investments aimed at preventing emissions.