Why is it important that Sweden invests in sustainable e-commerce?

The Sustainability Labeling Forum brings together many actors in the transport sector and trade to work together to review the criteria for sustainability labels for freight and e-commerce transport. All with the goal of effectively and reliably helping both professional transport buyers and e-commerce consumers make good choices when choosing their transport. The forum is led by ASTER and financed by the Swedish Energy Agency 

''The forum should be a place where you initiate reviews or ideas for research projects to see where the labels best fulfill their function'', says Olov.

The brands that are currently included are Svanen, Fair Transport and Good Environmental Choice. But other brands are of course welcome to join if they are third-party verified and live up to what they promise. 

''Why exactly ASTER has been given the responsibility is a matter of trust, no single actor should handle it independently. Here, ASTER acts as a neutral party without its own interests, particularly focused on sustainable e-commerce. In addition, ASTER has an extensive presence in the e-commerce industry in Sweden and is involved in many ongoing initiatives. These initiatives can both benefit from the forum and benefit from its knowledge'', according to Olov. 

Why is the Swedish Energy Agency investing in sustainability labels?

''Sweden must invest in more sustainable e-commerce, there is no alternative as e-commerce in Sweden is growing so incredibly fast right now'', says Olov.

The Energy Agency has a history of working committedly with labels linked to energy efficiency and product labels, so they have a well-developed methodology. But with e-commerce growing so fast, there has been no sustainable e-commerce in the field until recently, when the Sustainability Labeling Forum was started. 

''We noticed that there was a gap where there was a lack of labels for sustainable freight transport and e-commerce that the sustainability labeling forum is now facing. Here, the labels can work together and distribute common information to the e-commerce industry and transport buyers. Information that should make it easier to find the right one regarding which labeling is right for you and your organization'', says Olov. 

It is also about disseminating how to get a label, and what options are available for transport buyers, but also in the next step to the consumer - how can we help him choose transport depending on whether the transport is labeled with a sustainability label or not?