Aftenposten reports todaythat Norwegians are among the highest consumers of plastic in the world. This is not really surprising, given figures from, among others,Eurostat/Statistics Norwayhas for many years shown that consumption per capita in Norway is among the highest in Europe.
Plastic consumption in Norwegian households is closely linked to ever-increasing consumption, combined with access to alarmingly cheap plastic products designed to have a miserably short lifespan.
As a result, market forces are pulling both Norwegian consumers and Norwegian retail businesses into a downward spiral towards a dismal low point of low prices, soaring emissions and products that are hazardous to health.
While the responsible part of Norwegian retail complies with strict regulations and pays its way in accordance with environmental regulations, millions of parcels are pouring into the country from players such as Temu and Shein. According to estimates fromVirkedelivered more than 31,000 parcels to doorsteps across Norwayevery single dayin 2025. And according toRegjeringen.noA Nordic inspection of products purchased online showed that as many as 71 per cent of all products inspectedwere in breach of the chemicals legislation.
Low-cost imports are eroding the margins of responsible operators, making safe products with less plastic more expensive for everyone.
This is how cheap imports help make products with less plastic and fewer chemicals the preserve of those with the most money and knowledge, while those on low incomes and with less capacity to understand what they are actually buying end up with cheap plastic products of unknown content.
When cheap imports also mean that we fly newly produced plastic halfway around the world to be used for a few weeks or months before the products simply have to be incinerated, the misery is complete.
The fight against cheap imports therefore cannot be fought by consumers and retailers alone, nor by The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund, which has supported more than 3,000 projects to reduce the environmental problems caused by plastic. It must pay to comply with environmental regulations, and consumers must be given better support to make safe choices in everyday life.
That is why we need labelling schemes that consumers can find and understand, adjustments to customs duties, and control measures and sanctions for those who do not follow the rules of the game. In this way, we can reduce household plastic consumption, cut greenhouse gas emissions and better safeguard the health of Norwegian consumers.
