Multiple Sentenced to Prison in Major Think Pink Case

In a significant ruling, several defendants have been convicted of various degrees of environmental crimes, stemming from the illegal dumping of hundreds of thousands of tons of hazardous waste across multiple locations in Central Sweden.

Five individuals have received prison sentences ranging from two to six years for serious environmental offenses, while an additional five have been handed lesser sentences or probation for related charges. Fariba Vancor, the CEO of Think Pink, has been found guilty of 19 counts of serious environmental violations. Her ex-husband and co-founder of the company, Thomas Nilsson, has been sentenced to three years and six months for 12 counts of serious environmental crimes.

This case marks the largest environmental prosecution ever undertaken by the National Unit for Environmental and Work Environment Crimes, according to senior prosecutor Anders Gustafsson. After several years of legal proceedings and over 80 days of hearings, the nearly 700-page judgment was delivered by Södertörn District Court.

During a press conference, Judge Niklas Schüllerqvist stated that the court reached a unanimous decision regarding the case:

"The waste management practices were significantly flawed or incorrect, leading to environmental damage through emissions, and in some cases, creating substantial risks for both people and the environment. There is no doubt that environmental crimes occurred at the sites where the waste was handled," he emphasized.

Leif-Ivan Karlsson, a former CEO and television personality, was acquitted of all charges. The court found that while his connection to one of the waste management sites existed, the statute of limitations had expired on that particular offense.

This extensive investigation involved testimony from 150 witnesses and experts, as well as approximately 20 complainants, according to Schüllerqvist.

The Think Pink saga has seen numerous twists and turns. In 2018, the rapidly growing company was awarded a prize by Dagens Industri. However, two years later, police conducted a raid on the home of founder Bella Nilsson, who has since changed her name to Fariba Vancor, following suspicions of illegal waste management.

Allegations against Think Pink included the illegal dumping of hundreds of thousands of tons of waste at 21 locations across 15 municipalities from 2015 to 2020. However, the court established that crimes could only be proven at 19 sites. All defendants have consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The scale of the issues caused by the dumped waste is difficult to fully assess. In Kagghamra, south of Stockholm, a massive waste pile caught fire in late 2020. It has only recently cooled down enough for the municipality to begin testing to understand its contents.

Background:

• Think Pink, a recycling company, experienced a peak between 2018 and 2020 when its bright pink construction bags became ubiquitous on the streets of the capital.
• Founder Bella Nilsson received the Dagens Industri gasell prize for the fastest-growing company for two consecutive years.
• The company's success abruptly ended when its owners were arrested in late 2020 on suspicions of serious environmental crimes at 21 sites across Sweden.
• Numerous articles have since chronicled the waste from the pink company that never reached recycling facilities but was instead dumped, buried, and set ablaze in various locations.
• A total of 11 individuals have been charged with environmental crimes of varying severity in this major environmental scandal, with four facing serious charges and allegations of financial misconduct linked to the company, including CEO Bella Nilsson.