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Sustainability - Sweden

Updated 01/2011

Legal requirements

Corporate social responsibly

 Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is described as a voluntary responsibility in addition to the requirements stipulated in national legislation and includes human rights, environmental issues and social rights.

The mandatory laws in this area can also serve as a starting point for the voluntary initiatives in companies aimed at developing a sustainable environment:

  • Work Environment Act svenska
  • Working Time Act svenska
  • Act on Domestic Work svenska

The law requires businesses to comply with minimum social and environmental rules.

Administrative procedures

Certification

Quality and environmental management

There are a number of organisations with a regulatory function offering product labelling services in accordance with various criteria.

 CE mark (EU labelling for safety, environment and health)

  • Frequently asked questions on CE svenska

 KRAV mark (ecological products)

 Swan (Svanen) (Nordic Council of Ministers' eco-labelling)

 Swallow (Svalan) (asthma and allergy association label)

  • Swallow products svenska

 Fair trade labelling (fairer trade with the third world)

  • The fair trade mark and your company svenska

Resources

 The Swedish Standards Institute (SIS) provides information and supplies materials about Swedish standards for each sector, the global ISO standard and the European CEN standard.

Information on the bodies that can issue certificates for products and processes is available from the Swedish Board for Accreditation and Conformity Assessment (SWEDAC).

There are various authorities that contribute information, programmes and activities to support CSR work. More information can be found on their respective websites.

Programmes

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency manages the environmental and climate improvement investment programmes Klimp and LIP.

  • More information on the investment programmes svenska

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

  • References

    Legal texts

    • Working Time Act (Arbetstidslag (1982:673)) svenska
    • Work Environment Act (Arbetsmiljölag (1977:1160)) svenska
    • Act on Domestic Work (Lag (1970:943) om arbetstid m.m. i husligt arbet) svenska

Living and moving in Europe

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Enterprise Europe Network - Contact points

The Enterprise Europe Network provides businesses with information and advice through its local contact points. 

Choose your nearest contact point for personalized help and advice:

Further help

 CSR Sweden aims to promote CSR activities to strengthen enterprises' relations with the rest of the world as well as ensuring long-term growth and profitability.

 The Global Responsibility Initiative works to increase companies' commitment to human rights and basic working conditions, as well as fighting corruption and improving the environment.

  • Global Responsibility svenska