The Nordic startups cutting beauty waste
Could changing the way we produce and shop for cosmetics reduce waste?
Articles
Sweden a step closer to joining NATO
Sweden's Prime Minister celebrates as Turkey backs Nato bid
What did the Vikings eat?
Meet the Swedish archaeologist recreating Viking dishes.
Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes
How a metal box invented in Malmö, Sweden, is improving restaurant sustainability.
Did Me Too change the workplace for Gen Z?
How much did the anti-harassment movement really shift workplace culture?
Europe’s green steel race
Sweden is on course to produce Europe's first green steel.
The adults celebrating childfree lives
The no-kids movement is booming – but so is the backlash.
Would you flatshare with a gran?
A project in Helsingborg, Sweden, encourages under 25s to share with over 70s.
Reindeer herders fear Arctic industry boom
Reindeer herders argue climate change is causing problems for their animals, but so are carbon-cutting industries.
Finland wants to transform how we make clothes
Finland has a focus on reusing and saving resources, including clothing.
Can apps manage our chronic health conditions?
Sweden's boom in specialist digital healthcare services.
Is Finland’s Wood City the future of building?
Could building more homes and offices out of wood instead of concrete help tackle climate change?
Magdalena Andersson: Swedish PM resigns
Sweden's prime minister has resigned after her government was defeated in Sunday's election.
Gang shootings cast shadow over Sweden election
A sharp rise in gun violence and gang crime has become a leading issue in what Sweden's media have described as one of the ugliest election campaigns in history.
Why people watch porn at work
Watching adult content during work hours can be career-ending. But more employees than you might expect are risking it.
Runs in the midnight sun
Trail running has long been a hobby for outdoor-loving, sporty Swedes, with its optimal mix of exercise and access to abundant beauty spots.
Malmö school stabbing prompts soul-searching in Sweden
A string of violent attacks at schools in Sweden has a nation not used to such tragedies now looking for answers.
The mums who leave their kids
When mums leave their kids with family or partners, they are often viewed as deeply flawed, despite gains in gender equity.
Sweden’s obsession with cross-country skiing
One of the world’s oldest winter sports, cross-country skiing is a popular way to work out when temperatures plummet,
Avicii fans touched by ’emotional’ museum
Avicii's musical legacy is being celebrated at an interactive museum in Stockholm, which also raises awareness of mental health in the music industry.
The Swedish parents paid to care for sick kids
When children fall ill in Sweden, parents can take time off to care for them, while still pocketing 80% of their salaries.
Why more adults are cutting off their parents
Polarised politics and a growing awareness of how difficult relationships can impact our mental health are fuelling family estrangement.
The woman who became Sweden’s first woman PM twice
Magdalena Andersson's rise to power has been nothing short of a political soap opera, and the season finale may be yet to come.
Analysis: Sweden’s first female PM quits after 7 hours
Magdalena Andersson resigned after seven hours, but we can't assume we've seen the last of her.
Sweden’s Saturday-only candy tradition
Swedish children look forward to the weekend for their once-weekly candy fix. But beyond being a treat, these Saturday sweets teach a bigger lesson.
What bosses really think about remote work
Many managers are itching to get staff back to the office, despite employees championing alternative set-ups. Why?
Why it’s so hard to put boundaries on our time
As we edge out of the pandemic, why does setting better boundaries between our work and private lives still feel so tough?
Why rent control isn’t working in Sweden
An acute housing shortage means young Swedes are struggling to find affordable homes, despite Sweden's long history of rent control.
Birdnesting: The divorce trend where parents rotate homes
Millennial divorcees are increasingly keeping their kids in their former family home, while rotating in and out of the property themselves.
Could Covid vaccine be taken as a pill?
Right now, protection against Covid-19 comes via an injection. But in future, Swedish scientists say those vaccines could come from inhalers or even pills.
Sweden zooms to lead race for electric car batteries
Surrounded by tall green pine trees, 125 miles south of the Arctic circle, a giant electric battery factory is rapidly taking shape on a site as big as 71 football pitches
Fredagsmys: Sweden’s taco ritual
Nights out may be back on in many countries, but the Swedish concept of 'fredagsmys' champions spending Friday evenings on your sofa – with tacos.
Safe Sweden faces up to wave of women’s killings
Six women have been killed in just five weeks in Sweden, reigniting debates about domestic violence in a country usually praised for its gender equality.
The Swedish law of wanderlust
The Swedish constitution allows anyone to ski, cycle, skate, swim or camp almost anywhere in the country.
Shops return to rural Sweden but are now staff-free
It’s a mini supermarket that locals can access round-the-clock. But nobody works there.
How can we make washing machines last longer?
Fixing things that break down often isn’t easy, cost-effective or even desirable. Maddy Savage meets the Swedish companies trying to change that.
Why the pandemic is causing a spike in break-ups
Divorce rates are increasing around the world, and relationship experts warn the pandemic-induced break-up curve may not have peaked.
Has the meaning of work changed forever?
Remote working and watching the world go through a major shake-up is redefining what many of us need and want from our careers.
Why I chose to buy in Sweden
One Brit’s property adventure in Stockholm, and tips on doing it yourself.
Coronavirus: The possible long-term mental health impacts
Covid-19 has increased anxiety for many of us, and experts warn a sizable minority could be left with mental health problems that outlast the pandemic.
Are Europe’s night trains back in fashion?
Sleeper trains were making a slow comeback before the pandemic, but will Covid-19 help or hinder a renaissance of long-distance rail travel?
Why do so many women still change their names?
Taking a husband’s name emerged from patriarchal history. So why do so many young western couples still follow the tradition?
What’s life really like in lockdown-free Sweden?
The first thing any would-be tourist here will notice is the lack of face masks.
The Swedish staycation obsession
Swedes have long embraced their version of staycations: hemester. Now, Covid-19 travel restrictions and remote working are reshaping the tradition.
Did Sweden’s coronavirus strategy succeed or fail?
There’s been a sharp drop in deaths in Sweden, without a lockdown. So, have critics been too quick to judge the country’s unusual strategy?
Is video dating here to stay?
Video dating surged during lockdowns, but how much will the trend stick around in the ‘new normal’?
How Covid-19 is changing women’s lives
As working mums perform more childcare and face increased job insecurity, there are fears Covid-19 has undone decades of advancement.
Sweden PM murder: Who killed Olof Palme in 1986?
Swedish prosecutors have named the man who they say killed former Swedish prime minister Olof Palme in 1986, ending years of mystery.
What to do with friends who don’t social distance?
‘Stay at home’ is a simple message, but as countries open up with social distancing guidelines, there’s more room for interpretation.
What’s going wrong in Sweden’s care homes?
Care home residents account for nearly half of deaths linked to Covid-19 in Sweden. Some believe an institutional reluctance to admit patients to hospital is costing lives.
Covid-19: How much news is too much?
News consumption skyrocketed at the start of the pandemic, but for some it’s led to fatigue or anxiety. Where do you draw the line while staying informed?
Coronavirus: Has Sweden got its science right?
Sweden's strategy to keep large parts of society open is widely supported by the public. It has been devised by scientists and backed by government, and yet not all the country's virologists are convinced.
Coronavirus isolation is creating new couples
What’s it like living and working in self-isolation with someone you’ve only just started dating?
Sweden’s unusual response to coronavirus
While swathes of Europe's population endure lockdown conditions in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, Sweden is allowing life to go on much closer to normal.
Could the Swedish lifestyle help fight coronavirus?
Swedes are used to living alone, following rules and championing innovation. How might these social norms help during the coronavirus crisis?
Can artificial intelligence fight elderly loneliness?
Voice technologies using AI are being tested to combat loneliness in countries including Sweden and the UK. Should they be used more widely as coronavirus spreads?
How Norway Convinced Drivers To Switch To Electric Cars
Nearly half of new cars sold in Norway are electric. Here’s how the country got miles ahead of the rest of the world.
How Sweden is fixing the housework gender gap
Women still do the lion’s share of housework. Do Swedish-style tax breaks for cleaners provide a solution or perpetuate gender-role norms?
The housing project where young and old must mingle
Could a Swedish housing experiment that forces solo-living renters to spend two hours a week together be a solution to loneliness?
Why promoted women are more likely to divorce
Getting a top job dramatically increases women’s chances of divorce, even in egalitarian countries. Why isn't it the same for men?
Why is Sweden deporting talented foreign workers?
Retaining highly-skilled foreign workers is essential for countries like Sweden. But as a deported worker sues the state, the tech-savvy nation’s rejection record is in the spotlight.
The millennials deleting dating apps
Can millennials who’ve lost patience with digital platforms still find love in the analogue world?
What can the Nordics teach us about liveable cities?
Scandinavia is famous for its liveable cities, but a new university course in Nordic urban planning has raised questions about replicating the region’s approach elsewhere.
One hundred explosions in Sweden: What’s going on?
Swedish police say they are grappling with a rapid increase in explosions caused by illegal fire crackers, home-made bombs and hand grenades.
Swedes quit flying for the climate
The rise of “flight shame” in Sweden is persuading people to stay on the ground. Will the movement spread to the U.S.?
Why are saunas stressing out tech start-ups
Saunas at tech and business events are causing a heated debate in the Nordics. Is the traditional Scandinavian habit dampening diversity efforts?
Where wealth is ‘more taboo than sex’
A high income is a badge of success in many countries, but in Sweden a deep-rooted cultural code called Jantelagen stops many people from talking about it.
Being depressed in the world’s ‘happiest country’
In Finland, which tops global happiness rankings, there is a unique set of challenges for young people with depression.
Lynetteholmen: The Nordic island solving a housing crisis
Copenhagen's growing popularity has put a strain on housing supply, so city planners are working on an bold solution.
The paradox of working in ‘gender equal’ countries
Even Europe's most egalitarian countries struggle to put women on an even footing at work. So what's going wrong in the Nordics?
Why so many young Swedes live alone
Swedes typically stop living with their parents earlier than anywhere else in Europe. But can leaving home at a young age have a dark side?
Why Finland leads the way in flexible working trends
The Nordic nation has embraced agile hours for decades. It’s a style of work well suited to the country’s deep-rooted culture of trust.
ASAP Rocky Trial: The verdict
The key points from the judgement in the trial of US rapper ASAP Rocky. Reporting by Kameron Virk in London and Maddy Savage in Stockholm.
ASAP Rocky Trial: Day Three in Court
The key points from the US rapper's final day in court. Reporting by Steve Holden in London and Maddy Savage in Stockholm.
ASAP Rocky Trial: Day Two in Court
The mood inside the courtroom on day two of the US rapper's trial in Stockholm.
ASAP Rocky Trial: Day One in court
The mood inside the courtroom on day one of the US rapper's trial in Stockholm.
Why is burnout rising in the land of work-life balance?
Sweden is famous for championing a balanced lifestyle, but many young people are being signed off work with severe stress.
The Nordic law fearless women love
Sweden celebrates the right to roam freely in the country’s nature, and women aren’t afraid to embrace the tradition alone – even in the most remote locations
How to create a period-friendly workplace
A football app start-up in Gothenburg is set to become the first business in Sweden to be certified as menstruation-friendly.
The interviewing robot that won’t judge you
The world's first robot designed to carry out unbiased job interviews is being tested by Swedish recruiters. But can it really do a better job than humans?
Sweden’s cashless experiment
Noone is dropping cash as fast as Sweden. But has the Nordic nation moved too swiftly?
Sweden’s surprising rule for time off
The country's unique leave of absence system helps workers launch their own businesses.
Sweden’s first second hand mall
Everything at the ReTuna mall in Eskilstuna is recycled, reused or sustainably produced.
The cost of The Bridge
This brooding Nordic Noir backdrop has its own dramatic, twisting tale. It was a long time coming and has faced numerous challenges.
Why Swedes are getting chipped
So many Swedes are lining up to get microchips that the country’s main chipping company says it can’t keep up with the number of requests.
Foot on the gas
Alain Visser, CEO of car-subscription company Lynk & Co, has chosen a youthful team for his Gothenburg office, to teach him what’s ‘cool’.
How a Swedish wasteland became a sustainability star
Stockholm is home to one of the world’s most famous eco-neighbourhoods, Hammarby Sjöstad. But can it offer a template for urban living that can be replicated in other cities?
Nationalist vote set to shatter Swedish calm?
Sweden has long enjoyed a reputation for moderation and balance, but is its political landscape about to change dramatically with Sunday’s election, the tightest race in decades?
The broke blogger turned investor
He’s a university dropout who had no contacts in the tech scene when he moved to Copenhagen. So how did Neil Murray manage to launch one of the region’s most active new investment funds?
Where young people are getting richer
Young Norwegians have enjoyed a 13% rise in disposable household income, bucking a downward trend in other strong economies. Will this golden age last?
Is cultural fluency more important than language?
Does cultural knowledge trump language ability in international companies and start-ups where English is dominating?
Nobel Prize for Literature delayed
The organisation that decides the Nobel Prize for Literature has said it will not announce an award this year after it was engulfed in a scandal over sexual assault allegations.
How Sweden changed lanes
A nationwide mission to get all Swedish motorists to change the habits of a lifetime and begin driving on the right-hand side of the road for the first time took place in 1967.
Who loses from a cashless society?
Sweden is winning the race towards becoming the world's first completely cashless society, but there are growing concerns it's causing problems for vulnerable groups.
Kim Wall murder trial begins
Danish inventor Peter Madsen has denied murdering Swedish journalist Kim Wall on his submarine. As the trial starts, Maddy Savage reports on the atmosphere in Copenhagen.
The man who skates to work
David Allanson moved into a house next to a lake in Falun, Sweden so that he could ice skate to work every day during the winter.
Is boasting good or bad for business?
Sweden is one of the most innovative countries in the world, yet has a business culture that discourages bragging about its success.
Sweden’s melancholic raincoats
While most consumer brands like to suggest they will make the buyer feel happier, Swedish rainwear firm Stutterheim warns that its coats may make the wearer feel a bit blue.
The 20 essential things to do in Stockholm
In a city surrounded by islands and enriched with history and culture, you'll find plenty of great things to do in Sweden's capital.
Stockholm readies for sexist ads ban
Sweden's capital is poised to ban sexist and racist outdoor advertising. But should it be up to politicians to decide which billboards go too far?
‘Friluftsliv’: The Nordic concept of getting outdoors
Unwinding in the open air is so ingrained in the culture, some companies build it into the working week. But is it under threat in an increasingly global and digital society?
The 10 attractions in Stockholm you have to see
Whether museum hopping or sightseeing, you'll see plenty of top attractions in Stockholm, Sweden's picturesque capital.
The firm that can print 3D body parts
Swedish entrepreneur Erik Gatenholm explains how his company is becoming a world leader in bioprinting human body parts.
The best time to visit Stockholm
Whether you're after frosty hilltops or sun-kissed harbors, figure out the best time to visit Stockholm.
When Swedes tried 6-hour days
Sweden has been experimenting with six-hour days, with workers getting the chance to work fewer hours on full pay, but now the most high-profile two-year trial has ended - has it all been too good to be true?
Why Swedish workplaces aren’t as equal as you think
Sweden may have a global reputation as one of world's most gender equal societies but when it comes to female representation in business, campaigners question whether the Nordic nation is right to keep basking in the spotlight, as progress slows down back home.
The 10 best restaurants in Stockholm
Swedish meatballs, anyone? Savor traditional Nordic dishes, sweet treats, and more at the best restaurants in Stockholm.
The 10 best bars in Stockholm
Fancy a drink? Savor your favorite tipple at one of the best bars in Stockholm.
From blogger to beauty millionaire
After finding fame with her lifestyle blog, Isabella Lowengrip went on to establish one of Sweden's best-known beauty companies. But it wasn't all plain sailing for the 27-year-old.
Why Sweden is almost cashless
Sweden is the most cashless society on the planet, with barely 1% of the value of all payments made using coins or notes last year. So how did the Nordic nation get so far ahead of the rest of us?
The other side of Malmö
Scandinavia’s most diverse city has taken in record numbers of immigrants fleeing conflict, but its startup culture, lifestyle and food scene also makes it magnet for expats.
The Swedish physicist revolutionizing birth control
Inventing the first app in the world to be approved as a contraceptive started as a hobby project for Elina Berglund Scherwitzl.
The entrepreneur creating a cashless society
Serial entrepreneur Jacob de Geer was about to "get a real job" when he stumbled upon a gap in the market, and launched one of the most successful start-ups in his country's history.
The loneliest country for expats?
Dating is tough here, despite being the nation with Europe’s highest proportion of singles.
Stockholm’s fresh-thinking chefs
Meet Stockholm’s fresh-thinking chefs, busy making hay (or, rather, delicious food) while the sun shines.
Sweden’s rising bakery trend
The fortunes of bakeries are on the up thanks to a batch of hands-on entrepreneurs. Their products are also enriching the lives of urban communities by bringing neighbours together for a slice of the action.
Hot desking in strangers’ homes
Would you trade your office desk or your dining table to work in someone else’s home? A co-working movement launched in Sweden claims it will make you more productive.
Could running get you a new job?
If you are looking to boost your career, perhaps all you need to do is put on a pair of trainers and start jogging.
How a nation of introverts meets up
Sweden is considered one of the most egalitarian countries in the world. So why is it so tough to build a strong professional network?
The expats stranded by Brexit
What happens if you’re living abroad when your home country votes for its biggest shake-up in decades? After Brexit, many UK expats are reconsidering their plans to return.
How to say no at work when you don’t have kids
Despite a boom in flexible working, many singles say they’re still picking up the slack from colleagues with families. Career coaches are advising them to say no.
The best place for working families?
Quality of life is paramount. New parents are given 480 days of leave to look after their infants and childcare is heavily subsidised. Little wonder that Sweden has been rated the best location for family life.
‘Stop being shocked foreign graduates love it here’
Swedes should be proud so many foreign graduates choose to work here, rather than being constantly shocked how they brave the cold, argues Maddy Savage.
Could Brexit lead to Swexit?
Sweden is Britain's closest ally when it comes to voting on European policies and staying out of the eurozone. So how might the UK's Nordic neighbour react to Brexit?
How rich are you, really?
They say comparison is the thief of joy. In a world where even millionaires don’t consider themselves wealthy, is the key to life satisfaction to simply stop lining ourselves up against others?
Tackling unemployment in the Eurozone
Thousands of skilled workers who cannot find work in Greece, Spain and Portugal could help fill vacancies in other parts of the EU, officials in Brussels say.
The Twitter feed redefining Sweden
An organic sheep farmer, a priest and a Bosnian immigrant are among those who have helped double Sweden's Twitter followers.
Inside Copenhagen’s legal drug rooms
As safe rooms for the injection of hard drugs are being considered in northern England, police in Denmark say a similar project in Copenhagen has saved lives.
Is Belgium still the capital of chocolate?
Belgium invented the praline in 1912 and soon became known for making the best chocolates in the world. But 100 years on, the supremacy of local chocolatiers is under threat from international competition.
France’s craze for British weddings
France is famed for its food and fashions, but young couples are increasingly choosing a British or American-style wedding. Demand for tiered wedding cakes is soaring.
Oslo’s growth refines Nordic identity
Oslo's image is one of Viking history, snowy forests and fish and oil industries. But Norway's largest city is Europe's fastest-growing capital and it is undergoing its biggest and most controversial makeover since the 17th Century.
Swedes are great friends but terrible strangers
Stockholm has wonderful nature, food and work-life balance. But Maddy Savage is not so impressed by the (lack of) kindness of strangers in her adopted city.
Inside a Swedish asylum centre
Hundreds of refugees spend their first nights in Sweden at this busy asylum application centre in Märsta just outside Stockholm.
Northern Sweden’s frozen beggars
Roma beggars have become a common sight in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö in 2014. Now, growing numbers are making their way to Umeå, where temperatures regularly drop below -10C.
Norway’s secret reindeer recipes
Scandinavian cooking has been taking the world by storm and the town of Roros provides some of its most highly prized ingredients. But its refusal to sell them on the world market means only very few will ever get to taste them.
Why the British food scene is going Scandinavian
Swedish food sales in the UK have risen by almost 30% in the past five years, with Norway and Denmark also reporting an increase in exports destined for our dining tables. So why is Scandinavian cuisine getting so popular here?
Europe’s leftover food trend
Would you eat a stranger's leftover lunch? Across Europe, apps and websites that distribute excess food are edging into the mainstream as both start-ups and charities join the sharing economy trend.
Norway’s green music festival
Many music festivals promote an environmentally friendly ethos but their carbon footprints often tell another story. In Oslo, Oya is trying something completely different.
Europe’s youth pilgrim hotspot
Thousands of people are attending a landmark festival in Norway to remember Scandinavia's most famous saint. But why is Trondheim one of Europe's fastest growing pilgrim destinations?
The first Kenyan at the winter Olympics
Kenya's first international skier recalls the unexpected friendship that turned him into a poster boy for snow sports in Africa.
The start-up scene changing Norway
Norway's strict labour laws mean most offices in Oslo are empty after 16:00, but a growing number of young entrepreneurs are bringing a new 24-hour working culture to the city.
Inside Stockholm’s new Abba Museum
The BBC's Maddy Savage was given an exclusive preview of Abba The Museum, the first permanent exhibition to celebrate Sweden's most successful band.
Six secret ways to enjoy Stockholm on a shoestring
Taxis, booze and meals might cost more than elsewhere in Europe, but Sweden's capital's a surprisingly easy place to hang out, even if you're short on cash.
Momondo travel guide to Stockholm
An independent travel guide to Stockholm for Momondo. From fabulous Stockholm sights, shops, boutiques and markets, to local diners, restaurants, cafés, bars and hotels.
Why most Swedes are not working six hour days
International media have gone crazy for the idea that Swedish employers are introducing a six-hour work day, but for most workers living in the Nordic nation, the hype has little to do with the reality.
Ten unmissable outdoor bars in Stockholm
When the sun comes out, Sweden's capital undergoes a rapid transformation as outdoor bar areas spring open and the city's residents get a boost of energy after the harsh Nordic winter. So where can you guarantee a cool atmosphere as temperatures rise?
Sweden’s first light therapy school
Umeå in northern Sweden has just a few hours of light a day during December and a high school in the city has become the first in the country to use solar power to give students light therapy during lessons.
Sex attacks and racism are not the new norm
Sweden may no longer be a beacon of tolerance, but the global media's presenting an exaggerated picture of tensions between locals and refugees, argues Maddy Savage.
Moving to Sweden has made me more feminist
Can moving to Sweden from abroad make women feel more equal? Absolutely, writes Maddy Savage.
Why I’ve got no time for Swedes moaning about summer light
It's the time of year when the sun never sets in the far north of Sweden and even the capital doesn't get dark until gone 10pm. But after a sun-starved winter, why are Swedish residents moaning that it's too light at night?
Can streaming save the music industry?
Streaming services have reversed the fortunes of the music industry in Sweden and now generate more income than downloads or CDs. But can the model be replicated worldwide?
West end show heads to festival
Award-winning Broadway show Hair is the first hit musical to appear at a UK festival.
Michael Schumacher: Coma challenges
As doctors continue their efforts to bring Michael Schumacher out of his coma, it will be a stressful and frightening period for close relatives watching his recovery.
Paralympic Games: Meet the international fans
Up to 90% of tickets for the Paralympics in London were bought by British fans. So why did international supporters make the journey?
The salon for Paralympians
Three hundred cyclists have set off on a Paris-to-London bike ride to raise money for the charity Help for Heroes.
Putting family first at festivals
Portable toilets, muddy fields and huge crowds might not sound like the ideal ingredients for a family outing. But growing numbers of music festivals are finding new ways to appeal to parents and children.
Rio prepares for the Paralympics
Rio is in the spotlight as the next city set to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016.
Can anti-depressants tackle PMS?
There's been a rise in the number of young women being told they've got depression, when they're actually experiencing hormonal problems, according to the only UK-wide charity for people with PMT.
Bullying link to eating disorders
Almost half of young people with eating disorders believe bullying contributed to their illness, it is claimed.