1. Start
  2. About IVL
  3. Research and Development
  4. The societal benefits of research
Medarbetare på IVL håller lådor målade med de globala målen

The societal benefits of research

Research within sustainability issues drives society to a positive change. At IVL, we bring science to reality and include the global goals in all our operations.

IVL’s work with the UN's global sustainability goals

Agenda 2030 and the UN's global goals are mutually agreed upon across the world in work with the sustainable agenda. IVL works locally, nationally and internationally to contribute to sustainable development. Our premise is that research and distribution of knowledge is the key to solving the environmental and sustainability problems we face.

In September 2015, countries in the UN adopted Agenda 2030, a universal plan for sustainable development. The agenda consists of 17 global goals divided into 169 sub-goals and is planned to be achieved by 2030. Agenda 2030 and the global goals are the most ambitious arrangements, for sustainable development internationally, that the countries of the world have ever established. The concept of sustainable development includes the three dimensions of sustainability - social, economic and environmental.

Sustainable research and innovation

Research, knowledge and innovation are required for the world to succeed in achieving the 17 goals. We must find new solutions locally, nationally and globally. The solutions require collaborations between different actors, both nationally and internationally. Sweden is at the forefront of sustainability work and has the opportunity to take a global leadership role regarding research and innovation that contributes to the global goals.

IVL works with all dimensions of sustainability and has projects and tools that contribute to increased social, economic and ecological sustainability. We share knowledge and develop solutions together with our clients and partners, striving for sustainable development. IVL's work is characterized by a holistic view and life cycle perspective. Our ambition is to identify synergies and objective conflicts and to propose measures and solutions that contribute to Agenda 2030.

Why are the global goals important?

There are many reasons to work towards sustainable development. Sweden has set environmental goals to be achieved by 2030 and more legal requirements are expected in the future. At IVL, we want to contribute by:

  • creating strong research collaborations and research projects that contribute to the ongoing transition to a climate-neutral and sustainable society.
  • analyzing and evaluating our operations towards the global goals and other societal goals.
  • using the knowledge that is collected by research in new projects and assignments to increase utilization.

A selection of research that contributes to the global goals

  • Clean the Arctic from soot
  • The sustainable sewage treatment plant of tomorrow
  • The construction sector's actions for the climate.
  • Reuse in the construction industry
  • Increased recycling of plastic
  • Wastewater treatment of PFAS
  • Invasive Pacific oysters

The global goals and IVL

IVL's business are focused on research and development within the following global goals:

IVL contributes to:

  • Sustainable food production systems where ecosystems are maintained, which strengthens the ability to adapt to climate change and gradually improves the quality of soil.
Global goals zero hunger

IVL contributes to:

  • reducing the number of deaths and illnesses due to harmful chemicals, pollution and contamination of air, water and soil.
  • strengthening capacity concerning early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
Global goals good health and well being

IVL contributes to:

  • Achieving universal and equitable access to safe drinking water and sanitation by developing and implementing technologies for water collection, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reusage.
Global goals clean water and sanitation

IVL contributes to:

  • ensuring universal access to a significantly increased share of renewable energy in the global energy selection, and access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
  • increasing the pace of improving energy efficiency and strengthening international cooperation for research and technology within clean and renewable energy.
Global goals affordable and clean energy

IVL contributes by:

  • improving efficiency of resources for production and consumption.
  • endorsing occupational health and safety.
  • breaking the link between environmental degradation and growth.
Global goals decent work and economic growth

IVL contributes to:

  • refurbishing infrastructure and industries to make them spö ustainable, with more efficient use of resources as well as environmentally friendly technologies and industrial processes.
  • supporting domestic development of technology, along with research and innovation in developing countries.
Global goals sustainable industry innovation and infrastructure

IVL contributes to:

  • reducing the cities' negative environmental impact by working with air quality and management of municipal and other waste.
  • that cities and communities implement integrated plans for inclusion, efficiency of resources, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and resilience to disaster.
  • affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all and an inclusive and sustainable urbanization.
Global goals sustainable cities and communities

IVL contributes to:

  • environmentally friendly handling of chemicals throughout their life cycle, and significantly reducing emissions to air, water and soil in order to minimize negative consequences for health and the environment.
  • encouraging companies to implement sustainable practices and integrate sustainability into their reporting cycle.
  • identifying and eliminating inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption.
  • reducing waste through preventive measures, as well as reusage and recycle.
responsible consumption and production

IVL contributes to:

  • strengthening resilience and the ability to adapt to climate-related dangers and natural disasters.
  • improving education, awareness, and both human and institutional capacity in terms of early warning, climate adaptation and mitigation of climate change and its consequences.
  • integrating action for climate into policies, strategies and planning at a national level.
Global goals climate action

IVL contributes to:

  • preventing and reducing pollution in the sea, in particular from activities based on land, including marine litter and nutrient supply.
  • strengthening the conservation and sustainable utilization of the oceans and their resources
  • protecting marine and coastal ecosystems in order to achieve healthy and productive seas.
Global goals life below water

IVL contributes to:

  • preserving, restoring and sustainably using terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and their ecosystem services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and arid areas.
  • integrating the values of ecosystems and biodiversity into national and local planning and development as well as into accounting strategies.
  • cultivating the forests sustainably, stopping deforestation, restoring impoverished forests, reducing the destruction of natural habitats and halting the loss of biodiversity.
Global goals life on land

IVL contributes to:

  • development, transfer and dissemination of environmentally friendly technologies to developing countries.
  • strengthening the global partnership for sustainable development and complement it with a new one that exchanges knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to help achieve the goals of sustainable development; especially in developing countries.
Global goals partnerships for the goals
Last updated: 2023-03-06