Nyhet -
Sweden: Unique CO2 impact calculation on consumption indicates 9% decrease during the pandemic
Stockholm, April 28, 2021 – New insights from Mastercard and Doconomy, shows that Swedes’ shopping habits during the pandemic has reduced the CO2 emissions. The carbon footprint from shopping via Mastercard cards, in the most common consumer categories, decreased by 9 percent in Sweden during 2020 compared to 2019. A fresh consumer survey also shows 76 percent of the Swedes are willing to change their behaviour to fight climate change and sustainable challenges during 2021.
Consumption insights, powered by Doconomy’s service Åland Index, show purchases made with a Mastercard card, in the most common consumer categories, in 2020 accounted for approximately 13,9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). In 2019, the corresponding figure was 15,3 million tonnes of CO2e.A change of approximately 1,4 million tonnes of CO2, which is a decrease by 9%.
It indicates the pandemic has had quite an impact on Swedes’ carbon footprint through changed consumption habits while staying at home. At the same time a consumer survey from YouGov shows that as many as 40% of the Swedes’ views reducing their carbon footprint as more important now compared to pre the pandemic.
“We see a clear trend where more and more people want to consume consciously and contribute to a sustainable future. Through Mastercard's collaboration with Doconomy and Åland Index, we can share insights into how consumption patterns affect the CO2 footprint over time, which we hope will encourage even more people to make sustainable choices”, says Erik Gutwasser, Division President, Nordics & Baltics at Mastercard.
With the new insights, Doconomy and Mastercard hope to educate and engage individuals towards increased awareness and sustainable consumption.
“Together with Mastercard, we want to make it easier for people to understand how our everyday consumption choices affects the climate. With Doconomy’s service Åland Index as a calculation model we present market leading CO2-data connected to each purchase. It makes it easier for people to both understand and act to contribute to a more sustainable development”, says Mathias Wikström, CEO of Doconomy.
About the insightsThe transaction data refers to purchases made in 2019 and 2020 in Sweden, using a Mastercard. Data has been aggregated based on the most common consumer Retail & T&E categories. Each of these categories has then, through Åland Index, Doconomy's emission index for carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e), been provided with a corresponding carbon footprint. All data is analyzed on an anonymized and aggregated level.
About the consumer survey
Survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Mastercard. Total sample size was 15480 adults from UK, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Sweden (1 013 people), Greece, Netherlands, Austria, France, Turkey, Poland, Spain, Russia and Portugal. Fieldwork was undertaken between 19th January - 5th March 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all country adults (aged 18+).
About Åland IndexThe Åland Index is a global index that calculates consumers 'financial transactions' climate impact by using an average carbon footprint for each industry. The index detects, for example, whether a purchase is made at a gas station or in a flower shop and assigns a carbon footprint based on the information. However, indexing cannot derive the climate footprint of the specific product - partly because it currently lacks climate data at product level and partly due to integrity reasons.
The index is based on both validated company disclosed information and best in class modeling techniques based on scientific research and public datasets provided by S&P and Trucost and reports the consumer's estimated climate impact in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) in kilograms.
About Doconomy
Doconomy AB was founded in 2018 and is both a fintech startup as well as a philosophy about how we as humans can use our money as a tool for positive change for the climate. Doconomy's vision is to enable a sustainable lifestyle for everyone by providing simple mobile banking services that can change behavior, manage savings and reward a development towards sustainable consumption. Doconomy uses the Åland Index developed by the Finish bank Ålandsbanken together with Doconomy, S&P Global and Trucost in 2016. Follow us on Twitter @doconomy
