Eskilstuna Municipality has filed an appeal against the Swedish Chemicals Agency's decision to grant Senior Material a permit to use methylene chloride in its production of separator film for electric vehicle batteries. The municipal board reached this decision on October 2nd, with the community building committee scheduled to address the matter during its meeting on October 3rd. The appeal represents a significant challenge to the regulatory approval process for industrial chemical use in Sweden.

The controversy centers on methylene chloride, also known as dichloromethane (DCM), a chlorinated solvent that has been nationally prohibited in Sweden since 1996 due to health risks for workers handling the substance. The chemical is classified as carcinogenic and capable of causing genetic changes, while also being harmful to aquatic organisms. Senior Material received an exemption from this ban for its planned production operations, marking a notable exception to Sweden's long-standing restrictions on the substance.

Public concern over the potential environmental impact has manifested in substantial community opposition. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Senior Material's factory in the Svista industrial area on October 1st, expressing worries about future emissions of the chemical. The protest movement has gained momentum through social media campaigns and a petition that has collected over 130,000 signatures demanding the cessation of methylene chloride emissions.

Municipal officials cite multiple grounds for their appeal, particularly emphasizing the volume of methylene chloride approved—1,280 tons over a two-year period—which they describe as unreasonable given Sweden's phase-out objectives for the substance. Niklas Edmark, business director for Eskilstuna Municipality, stated that the approved quantity significantly exceeds what has been permitted in Sweden in recent years and conflicts with national sustainability goals. The municipality argues that the Chemicals Agency should have applied the precautionary principle more rigorously and expanded its assessment criteria given the scale of proposed use.

Casper Ruud captured the Stockholm Open title with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory over Ugo Humbert in a final that lasted just 68 minutes. The Norwegian second seed dominated throughout the match, dropping only two points on his serve in the first set and just one point in the second set. After breaking Humbert early in both sets, Ruud comfortably served out the match to claim his second title of 2025, following his earlier Masters 1000 victory in Madrid.

The victory came amid growing concerns about player welfare on the ATP Tour, highlighted by Holger Rune's season-ending injury during the tournament's semifinals. Rune had started strongly in Stockholm, reaching the semifinal round with victories over Marton Fucsovics and Tomas Martin Etcheverry before suffering a torn Achilles tendon that forced his withdrawal from the match against Humbert. The injury abruptly ended Rune's season, preventing his potential qualification for the season finale.

Ruud addressed the injury concerns in post-match comments, expressing frustration with the demanding tournament schedule. "It's very demanding when you go directly from tournament to tournament," Ruud stated. "Holger was in Shanghai last week, and when something is so demanding, something like this can unfortunately happen. We're all in some kind of risk zone when we step onto the pitch." The Norwegian added that while he couldn't confirm a direct connection between Rune's injury and the schedule, "in a way, all injuries are probably because of the tough schedule."

The concerns about player workload extend beyond Ruud's comments, with world No. 9 Jack Draper recently requesting the ATP Tour to reassess its packed calendar. Players have emphasized the need for a more manageable schedule to ensure long and healthy careers. Ruud acknowledged the physical demands, noting that players are "really pushing our own limits at the moment" and expressing sympathy for Rune's unfortunate situation while wishing him a speedy recovery.