Dioxins: An Easy Problem to Solve or a Hard-Fought Battle for the Environment? a Case Study of How and Why the Pulp and Paper Industry in Sweden Transitioned Away From Chlorine-Bleaching

Sammanfattning: The situation for the environment is in many ways dire. However, amidst all the negative environmental developments it is easy to neglect the successes that have actually happened. With the aim of better understanding what factors facilitated such a success this thesis analyses one such case, namely emissions of dioxins and chlorinated waste from the pulp and paper industry in Sweden. Dioxins were discovered in the wastewater from mills in the mid-1980s and in the span of just a few years emissions were drastically reduced to the point of becoming a non-issue. Using a single case study design this thesis analysis this case using middle-range theorizations of the Treadmill of Production and Ecological Modernization Theory, both prominent theories from environmental sociology most frequently thought of as macro-theories. Two methods were utilized to examine the case: expert interviews, and qualitative content analysis of newspaper articles. The findings suggest that regulation, and the regulatory style of Sweden, which eschews national regulation in lieu of actor-by-actor regulation, played important roles in creating the conditions for transitioning and as drivers in the early stages of transitioning, which is also supported by previous research on the topic. Regulation as a main driver was later replaced by consumer pressure, both in Sweden and in export markets, which demanded chlorine-free products in part based on fears of dioxin contamination of the products. The power of citizens was found to have been crucial in reaching a positive outcome.