University of Gothenburg
Teddybear and shoes
The new tax to reduce harmful chemical substances in textiles and shoes will become real in 2022.
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The Swedish government moves forward with implementing a tax on chemicals in clothing and footwear

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FRAM - Centre for Future Chemical Risk Assessment and Management Strategies

As reported before, FRAM has been part of an investigation of a new tax on chemicals and shoes. The Swedish government has now decide to implemented the new tax in 2022.

The Swedish government announced on October 16th that it plans to implement the proposed tax on chemicals in clothing and footwear in 2022.

FRAM researcher Daniel Slunge was one of the authors of the report proposing a new tax which would cover all clothes and shoes and then allows for tax deductions, if companies can prove that their products do not contain listed hazardous chemicals.

When we wrote about this in April 2020, he said that "Taxes has traditionally not been used in chemicals management. But when focus is shifting from a few very hazardous substances to concerns about cumulative effects of low dose exposure to multiple chemicals in consumer products, taxes can be a good policy instrument choice. From an economic efficiency point-of-view, it is desirable to target taxes towards specific environment or health damages as closely as possible."

Several stakeholders have provided comments on the tax-proposal.

Read the University of Gothenburg's views on the Ministry of Finance's report Tax on fashion (SOU 2020: 20)

 

Area
Sustainability and environment
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