Expansion for pollution reduction? Environmental adaptation of a Swedish and a Canadian metal smelter, 1960–2005

Abstract

We examine the historical developments of the environmental adaptation process at one Swedish metal smelting firm, contrasting the result with cases in Canada. The findings suggest that the Swedish system in excluding stakeholders, focusing on plant emissions and stipulating pollution reduction at economically feasible costs mitigated risk which resulted in long-term contracts in a cooperative framework in which engineers were given a high degree of discretion. This enabled an ‘expansion-for-emission-reduction’ strategy which is consistent with the so-called Porter and van der Linde hypothesis. Moreover, the findings suggest that environmental management systems should be considered in the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) research.

Keywords:

• business history
• environmental management
• Porter and van der Linde hypothesis
• Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC)

Acknowledgements

The paper benefited from the suggestions of commentators at seminars held at the 10th European Business History Association conference, Copenhagen 2006 and the 4th European Society for Environmental History conference, Amsterdam 2007. Comments from Professor Mike B. Adams and Professor Runar Brännlund are gratefully acknowledged. However, the normal disclaimer applies. We also appreciate the helpful assistance from Rönnskär and Horne in providing emission and production data. Financial support from the Swedish Energy Agency (STEM) is gratefully recognised.

Notes

1. Emission and production data 1965–2005 from: Länsstyrelsens arkiv (hereafter LA), Västerbotten, Dossier för miljövård 2482–24–107, Vol. 03–06.

2. Riksarkivet (National Archives, hereafter RA), Licensing Board of Environmental Protection. See Boliden's application to the Licensing Board: No. Ä 57/73, akt.bil. 2, 29 June 1973.

3. Statens Naturvårdsverks arkiv (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Archive, hereafter SEPA), Vol. F2GK:88, Report from a study tour to USA and Canada, 1974.

4. SEPA, Vol. F2GK:78, Report from a study tour to metal smelters in Japan, USA, Canada and Belgium, January–February 1986.

5. Statens offentliga utredningar (SOU) 1966:65 (Public Investigation 1966:65).

6. SEPA, Vol. F2GK:88, Report from a study tour to USA and Canada, 1974.

7. Boliden Central Archive Skelleftehamn (hereafter BCAS) Vol. 137 02, Internal message: visit to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, 9 February 1968; BCAS Vol. 137.05, Interna organ, 137.06, Meeting protocol, 19 March 1968; BCAS Vol. 137.05 Interna organ. 137.06 Interna sammanträden/konferens. Protocol from a meeting within the Boliden Working Group for water and air protection, 27 May 1971.

8. RA, Licensing Board of Environmental Protection, Dnr Ä 57/73, Decision No. 3/75, No. 122/81 and No. 192/86.

9. RA, Licensing Board of Environmental Protection, Dnr Ä 57/73, akt.bil. 28.

10. RA, Licensing Board of Environmental Protection Dnr Ä 57/73, Decision No. 192/86, 1986.

11. The year following 1986 was, however, characterised by less consensus between the company and the authorities, which perhaps can be traced to the new owners of the Boliden Group, Trelleborg, in 1986–1987.

12. SEPA, Vol. F2GK:78, Report from a study tour to metal smelters in Japan, USA, Canada and Belgium, January–February 1986.

13. Ibid.

14. BCAS, Information Sheet on the new organisation of the environmental department, 1985.