Nordic sustainability briefing: donated goods, SME energy support, power-mix data and jet-fuel rules
Today's briefing looks at how good intentions can fall short in practice, from charity shops discarding half their donated goods to a debate over whether crop-based jet fuel would actually cut aviation emissions. It also covers support schemes helping small Nordic businesses fund energy audits and efficiency upgrades, alongside new global data showing renewables now far outpacing nuclear in the world's electricity mix.
Finnish Red Cross shop in Vaasa says about half of donated crockery and textiles become waste
Yle reports that around half of the dish and textile donations at the Finnish Red Cross recycling shop in Vaasa end up as waste. Sorting and transporting unusable items costs the charity money and takes time from charity work. The charity suggests asking whether you would buy the item yourself before donating. Yle corrected an earlier version of the story that said unsellable textiles go to landfill.
Motiva sets out 2026 energy-audit and investment support levels open to micro-businesses and sole traders
Motiva's guidance says micro-businesses and SMEs using under 2,700 MWh a year can get 50% support for Motiva-type energy audits if they have joined an energy efficiency agreement, and 40% if they have not. Energy-saving investments can receive up to 20% support for agreement members, or 25% when an ESCO service is used. Projects must cost at least €10,000 and must not start before the funding decision. Energy aid is open to firms of any size, including sole traders and trade-name businesses.
Our World in Data: renewables supplied 34% of global electricity in 2025, nuclear 9%
A new Our World in Data insight shows renewables producing more than three times as much of the world's electricity as nuclear in 2025, at 34% against 9%. Fossil fuels still supplied roughly 57%. Nuclear output is about what it was two decades ago, so its share has fallen as total generation has grown.
WRI argues against allowing food and feed crops in the UK's sustainable aviation fuel mandate
In a commentary, WRI says a proposal to loosen the UK's jet-fuel rules could undermine the mandate's climate goals. It argues that using crop-based biofuels for aviation would displace food production, drive ecosystem conversion elsewhere and could raise emissions above those of continued fossil jet fuel. The UK's rules are a reference point for how flight-fuel policy may develop for business travellers.