2024-06-122023/24:MJU17 · p.6MJUEnvironment & agriculture
Reuse and recycling of textiles
Measures to increase textile reuse and recycling
What's at stake: The decision affects how much used textiles are recycled within Sweden rather than exported for incineration or landfill abroad, which matters both for the environment and for Swedish textile manufacturers' access to recycled, toxin-free material.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether Sweden should actively build large-scale national infrastructure for sorting and fibre recycling of textiles and tighten producer-responsibility requirements to extend the domestic lifespan of textiles, or whether ongoing national and EU work on regulation and procurement is already sufficient to increase textile reuse and recycling.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions. The committee points to ongoing efforts for more circular handling of products, including sustainability criteria developed for public procurement and the EU's forthcoming ecodesign regulation, which will allow mandatory requirements in such procurement, as well as to the committee examining economic policy instruments for the circular transition and the ongoing inquiry into producer responsibility. The committee considers that this work already aims to strengthen reuse and recycling, including of textiles, and therefore sees no reason to now decide on further specific legislation or infrastructure investment.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 9 (C)
The reservation (C) instead wants to focus on extending the lifespan of textiles domestically in Sweden by building large-scale infrastructure for sorting and fibre recycling, rather than tightening producer responsibility. The reasoning is that expanded producer responsibility risks simply increasing the volume of textiles collected without solving the problem, since most of what is not incinerated today is instead exported, where it is often incinerated or landfilled, with only a vanishingly small share actually reused or recycled - a major loss of resources that also bypasses the growing Swedish textile manufacturing industry.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 9 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | Yes | Abstain 2/0/89/15 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | Yes | Yes 15/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| SHanna Westerén (S, Gotlands län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
| SJytte Guteland (S, Stockholms kommun) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:2485 by Stina Larsson et al. (C) point 13 and 2023/24:2629 by Anna-Caren Sätherberg et al. (S) points 43 and 44.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:2485 av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C) yrkande 13 och 2023/24:2629 av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S) yrkandena 43 och 44.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag has dealt with a letter from the government concerning the Swedish National Audit Office's report on the management of spent solar cell panels and wind turbine blades. The Swedish National Audit Office's overall conclusion is that the government, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Energy Agency have not ensured that spent solar cell panels and wind turbine blades can be managed in a non-toxic and circular manner. The Swedish National Audit Office's recommendations to the government include, among other things, reviewing the need for policy instruments to promote such management. In its letter, the government agrees with the Swedish National Audit Office's findings and at the same time points to measures that have been taken, including that the government has tasked the Swedish Energy Agency with investigating how solar cell panels and wind turbine blades for wind power plants to a greater extent can be managed in accordance with the so-called waste hierarchy. The Riksdag believes that the measures the government presents partly correspond to what the Swedish National Audit Office is requesting. At the same time, the Riksdag emphasizes that the work needs to be intensified to achieve sustainable management of these products. With this, the committee proposes that the Riksdag places the government's letter on file, that is, closes the matter. The Riksdag also said no to approximately 180 proposals on circular and non-toxic economy in motions from the general motion period in 2023, partly with reference to ongoing work. The motions concern, among other things, sustainable design, consumption and production, reuse and recycling, waste, circular food issues, plastic issues and chemical issues.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to strengthen ecodesign requirements for water-saving technology and expand the green tax deduction for household water savings. (C) — Reservation 9
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan requires that reuse and recycling of materials increases and proposes a massive investment programme for the green industry as a key part of the shift to a circular economy.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that reuse and recycling of materials increases and proposes a massive investment programme for the green industry as a key part of the shift to a circular economy. The counter-proposal's requirement for large-scale domestic infrastructure for sorting and fibre recycling is precisely such an investment, and addresses the plan's goal of products that last and can be reused. The counter-proposal's downplaying of tougher producer requirements pulls partially in the other direction, since the plan also wants to place requirements on industry.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att återanvändning och återvinning av material ökar och föreslår ett massivt investeringsprogram för den gröna industrin som en nyckeldel i skiftet till cirkulär ekonomi. Motförslagets krav på en storskalig inhemsk infrastruktur för sortering och fiberåtervinning är just en sådan investering, och svarar mot planens mål om produkter som håller och kan återanvändas. Att motförslaget nedprioriterar skärpta producentkrav drar delvis åt andra hållet, eftersom planen också vill ställa krav på industrin.
- increased reuse and recyclingdecisive»Återanvändning och återvinning av material behöver öka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reuse and recycling of materials need to increase.”
- massive green investment programme»Vänsterpartiet föreslår ett massivt investeringsprogram för den gröna industrin.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party proposes a massive investment programme for the green industry.”
- circular economy in industry»Det är en nyckeldel i ett bredare skifte till cirkulär ekonomi och« (party programme ↗)“It is a key part of a broader shift to a circular economy and”
- demands on producers (qualifying)»Politiken kan och måste ställa krav på att industrin ställer om« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Politics can and must demand that industry switches”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The counter-proposal wants to build domestic sorting and fibre recycling infrastructure instead of tightening requirements on producers.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to build domestic sorting and fibre recycling infrastructure instead of tightening requirements on producers. The plan adheres to environmental considerations being built into production processes from the outset and to the principle of the polluter pays, which argues against lifting producer requirements. That the state should simultaneously take risk in green investments supports the infrastructure part, but the balance between the two falls out against the counter-proposal's underlying position. The basis is weak and the conclusion derived.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill bygga inhemsk sorterings- och fiberåtervinningsinfrastruktur i stället för att skärpa kraven på producenterna. Planen håller fast vid att miljöhänsyn ska byggas in i produktionsprocesserna redan från början och vid principen att förorenaren betalar, vilket talar mot att lyfta bort producentkraven. Att staten samtidigt bör ta risk i gröna investeringar stöder infrastrukturdelen, men avvägningen mellan de två faller ut mot motförslagets grundhållning. Underlaget är svagt och slutsatsen härledd.
- environmental requirements on productiondecisive»Hänsynen till miljöns krav ska byggas in i produktionsprocesserna redan från början.« (party programme ↗)“Consideration of environmental requirements shall be built into production processes from the outset.”
- the polluter pays»Vi ska verka för att ett globalt koldioxidpris införs med principen att förorenaren betalar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall work for a global carbon price to be introduced with the principle of the polluter pays.”
- minimize waste and emissions»miljöpåverkan i form av utsläpp och avfallsprodukter ska minimeras« (party programme ↗)“environmental impact in the form of emissions and waste products shall be minimized”
- green state investments»Vi vill utöka de gröna kreditgarantierna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to expand green credit guarantees.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's guiding commitment in the circularity question is sharp demands on producers to adapt products to circular principles, bans on goods built to break down and legal requirements for repairability.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's guiding commitment in the circularity question is sharp demands on producers to adapt products to circular principles, bans on goods built to break down and legal requirements for repairability. The counter-proposal explicitly wants to invest in collection and recycling infrastructure instead of sharpened producer requirements and thus deprioritises precisely what the plan puts first. The plan supports recycling but not that weighting.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande i cirkularitetsfrågan är skarpa krav på producenterna att kretsloppsanpassa produkter, förbud mot varor byggda för att gå sönder och lagkrav på reparerbarhet. Motförslaget vill uttryckligen satsa på insamlings- och återvinningsinfrastruktur i stället för skärpta producentkrav och nedprioriterar därmed just det planen sätter främst. Planen stöder återvinning men inte den avvägningen.
- sharp producer requirementsdecisive»Vi vill se skarpa krav på producenterna att kretsloppsanpassa nya produkter och fasa ut miljöskadliga ämnen.« (party programme ↗)“We want to see sharp demands on producers to adapt new products to circular principles and phase out environmentally harmful substances.”
- legal requirement for repairability»ställa lagkrav på att produkter ska vara enkla och billiga att reparera och uppdatera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“set legal requirements that products shall be easy and cheap to repair and update.”
- ban on planned obsolescence»förbjuda produkter som är tillverkade för att gå sönder i förtid.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“ban products that are manufactured to break down prematurely.”
- reuse and material recycling»i ökad utsträckning återanvända och återvinna. Målet är slutna kretslopp.« (party programme ↗)“in increasing measure reuse and recycle. The aim is closed loops.”
The manifesto explicitly mentions clothing as an example and states that with the right support and regulatory simplifications we can recycle and reuse more, with the goal that Sweden becomes the world's most resource-efficient country.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The manifesto explicitly mentions clothing as an example and states that with the right support and regulatory simplifications we can recycle and reuse more, with the goal that Sweden becomes the world's most resource-efficient country. The counter-proposal's line to build up domestic sorting and fibre recycling capacity instead of stricter producer requirements answers exactly that support and simplification path. The circular principle in the party programme supports that the material is salvaged in Sweden instead of being exported and burned.
Original (Swedish)
Manifestet nämner uttryckligen kläder som exempel och slår fast att vi med rätt stöd och regelförenklingar kan återvinna och återbruka mer, med målet att Sverige blir världens mest resurseffektiva land. Motförslagets linje att bygga upp inhemsk sorterings- och fiberåtervinningskapacitet i stället för skärpta producentkrav svarar mot just den stöd- och förenklingsvägen. Kretsloppsprincipen i partiprogrammet stöder att materialet tas till vara i Sverige i stället för att exporteras och brännas.
- support and simplification for reusedecisive»Med rätt stöd och regelförenklingar kan vi återvinna och återbruka allt från kläder till mineral och metaller.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“With the right support and regulatory simplifications we can recycle and reuse everything from clothing to minerals and metals.”
- resource efficiency and circularity»Sverige ska bli världens mest resurseffektiva land och ekonomin mer cirkulär.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should become the world's most resource-efficient country and the economy more circular.”
- circular thinking»Vi har en skyldighet att bruka utan att förbruka, att inte föröda kretsloppen för kommande generationer.« (party programme ↗)“We have a duty to use without consuming, not to deplete the cycles for future generations.”
The plan establishes that waste's environmental impact shall be reduced through functioning reuse and recycling and that basic raw materials shall circulate in the production system, and that technological development is a central part of the solution.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that waste's environmental impact shall be reduced through functioning reuse and recycling and that basic raw materials shall circulate in the production system, and that technological development is a central part of the solution. The counter-proposal's requirement for large-scale domestic infrastructure for sorting and fibre recycling responds to exactly this, since exports and incineration do not create a real cycle. Simultaneously, the plan maintains that the polluter pays, which draws towards stronger producer requirements and makes the conclusion uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att avfallets miljöpåverkan ska minskas genom fungerande återanvändning och återbruk och att grundläggande råvaror ska cirkulera i produktionssystemet, samt att teknisk utveckling är en central del av lösningen. Motförslagets krav på en storskalig inhemsk infrastruktur för sortering och fiberåtervinning svarar mot just detta, eftersom export och förbränning inte ger något verkligt kretslopp. Samtidigt håller planen fast vid att förorenaren ska betala, vilket drar åt skärpta producentkrav och gör slutsatsen osäker.
- functioning reusedecisive»Avfallets miljöpåverkan ska minskas genom fungerande återanvändning och återbruk.« (party programme ↗)“Waste's environmental impact shall be reduced through functioning reuse and recycling.”
- raw materials shall circulate»grundläggande råvaror, såsom växtnäring och mineraler, ska cirkulera i produktionssystemet« (party programme ↗)“basic raw materials, such as nutrients and minerals, shall circulate in the production system”
- technology solves environmental problems»Teknisk utveckling är en central del av lösningen på dagens miljöproblem.« (party programme ↗)“Technological development is a central part of the solution to today's environmental problems.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's decisive commitment is extended producer responsibility, because the incentives to produce goods that can be disassembled and recycled arise when the producer bears responsibility for the waste.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decisive commitment is extended producer responsibility, because the incentives to produce goods that can be disassembled and recycled arise when the producer bears responsibility for the waste. The counter-proposal explicitly wants to invest in collection and recycling infrastructure instead of tightened demands on producers. The plan also prioritizes that waste is prevented before collection. Therefore the demand is rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är ett utökat producentansvar, eftersom incitamenten att producera varor som går att demontera och återvinna uppstår när producenten bär ansvaret för avfallet. Motförslaget vill uttryckligen satsa på insamlings- och återvinningsinfrastruktur i stället för skärpta krav på producenterna. Planen prioriterar dessutom att avfall förebyggs före insamling. Därför avvisas kravet.
- extended producer responsibilitydecisive»bland annat genom ett utökat producentansvar.« (party programme ↗)“among other things through extended producer responsibility.”
- producer responsibility creates incentives»När producenterna får ansvar för avfallet« (party programme ↗)“When producers are given responsibility for waste”
- prevent waste first»Avfallshantering ska främst utgå från att förebygga avfall« (party programme ↗)“Waste management shall primarily aim to prevent waste”
The plan does not mention textiles, but its environmental policy is consistently aimed at expanding technology and capacity instead of placing more requirements on companies, and it wants to significantly reduce regulatory complexity.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not mention textiles, but its environmental policy is consistently aimed at expanding technology and capacity instead of placing more requirements on companies, and it wants to significantly reduce regulatory complexity. The counter-proposal wants to precisely invest in large-scale infrastructure for sorting and fiber recovery instead of strengthened producer requirements. This aligns with the plan's choice of means, which is why the conclusion is support.
Original (Swedish)
Planen nämner inte textilier, men dess miljölinje är genomgående att bygga ut teknik och kapacitet i stället för att lägga fler krav på företagen, och den vill minska regelkrånglet kraftigt. Motförslaget vill just satsa på storskalig infrastruktur för sortering och fiberåtervinning i stället för skärpta producentkrav. Det ligger i linje med planens val av medel, varför slutsatsen blir stöd.
- technology before requirementsdecisive(2022 manifesto)
- reduced regulatory complexity»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove one-third of companies' administrative costs and one-third of regulatory complexity”
- large-scale technology expansion»Få på plats storskalig infångning av koldioxid« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Put large-scale carbon capture in place”
- green innovations in industry»Svenska företag är i framkant för nya gröna innovationer« (party programme ↗)“Swedish companies are at the forefront of new green innovations”
flags: citat_ej_verifierat
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's environmental policy is based on finding the most environmentally efficient and cost-effective methods without harming industries.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's environmental policy is based on finding the most environmentally efficient and cost-effective methods without harming industries. The counter-proposal wishes to build domestic sorting and fibre recycling instead of tightening producer requirements, with the argument that today's collection mostly leads to export and incineration. This lies close to the plan's demand for most environment per krona and relieved regulatory burden for companies.
Original (Swedish)
Planens miljöpolitik utgår från att hitta de mest miljöeffektiva och kostnadseffektiva metoderna utan att skada näringar. Motförslaget vill bygga inhemsk sortering och fiberåtervinning i stället för att skärpa kraven på producenterna, med argumentet att dagens insamling mest leder till export och förbränning. Det ligger nära planens krav på mest miljö per krona och lättad regelbörda för företagen.
- environmentally and cost-efficient methodsdecisive»Sverigedemokratisk miljöpolitik utgår från förvaltarskapstanken och strävar efter att hitta de mest miljöeffektiva och kostnadseffektiva metoderna, som samtidigt inte skadar näringar och landsbygd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrat environmental policy is based on stewardship thinking and strives to find the most environmentally efficient and cost-effective methods, which at the same time do not harm industries and rural areas.”
- most environment per krona»Sträva efter miljöeffektivitet och hitta de åtgärder som ger mest miljö per krona« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strive for environmental efficiency and find measures that provide most environment per krona.”
- relieved regulatory burden»Verka för regelförenkling och avlasta småföretagens administrativa börda« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for regulatory simplification and relieve small businesses' administrative burden.”
- Swedish industry prioritized»Prioritera svensk industri och konkurrenskraft« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prioritize Swedish industry and competitiveness.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:MJU17)
- Committee report full text (HB01MJU17)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1067 — Importkontroll av skinn av Helén Pettersson och Åsa Karlsson (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:107 — Återvinning av solceller av Margareta Cederfelt (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1096 — Ökad användning av avfall och restprodukter av Markus Wiechel och Victoria Tiblom (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1133 — Pant på batterier av Jan Ericson (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1205 — Minskad plastanvändning och främjande av återvinningsinitiativ av Serkan Köse (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1253 — Ekonomiska garantier för avfallsplatser av Martina Johansson och Malin Björk (båda C)
- Motion 2023/24:1263 — Matsvinn i livsmedelshandeln av Anders Ådahl (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1375 — Konsumenternas valfrihet när det gäller säkra produkter av Larry Söder (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:1400 — Gemensamt ansvar för rena stränder av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1519 — En grön klimathandlingsplan för Sverige av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1520 — Minskad användning av plast och förenklad återvinning av Emma Nohrén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1521 — Ett robust och modernt va-system av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1633 — Sveriges 13 sämsta lagar av Rickard Nordin och Niels Paarup-Petersen (båda C)
- Motion 2023/24:1759 — Pant på saftflaskor - en stor miljövinst av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1768 — Införande av pantsystem för färgpatroner av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1770 — Obligatoriskt mottagande av importburkar och flaskor av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1784 — Fritidsbåtar av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1808 — Olagliga komposter av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1873 — För havets och människans framtid av Emma Nohrén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1996 — Förbud mot PFAS i Sverige, EU och världen av Magnus Manhammar (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament