diff --git a/swh/loader/core/loader.py b/swh/loader/core/loader.py
--- a/swh/loader/core/loader.py
+++ b/swh/loader/core/loader.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 import os
 from typing import Any, Dict, Iterable, Optional, Tuple
 
-from swh.core import config
+from swh.core.config import load_from_envvar
 from swh.model.model import (
     BaseContent,
     Content,
@@ -27,13 +27,20 @@
 from swh.storage import get_storage
 from swh.storage.utils import now
 
+DEFAULT_CONFIG: Dict[str, Any] = {
+    "max_content_size": 100 * 1024 * 1024,
+    "save_data": False,
+    "save_data_path": "",
+}
 
-class BaseLoader(config.SWHConfig, metaclass=ABCMeta):
+
+class BaseLoader(metaclass=ABCMeta):
     """Mixin base class for loader.
 
     To use this class, you must:
 
     - inherit from this class
+
     - and implement the @abstractmethod methods:
 
       - :func:`prepare`: First step executed by the loader to prepare some
@@ -58,30 +65,14 @@
 
     You can take a look at some example classes:
 
-    - :class:`BaseSvnLoader`
+    - :class:`SvnLoader`
 
     """
 
-    CONFIG_BASE_FILENAME = None  # type: Optional[str]
-
-    DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
-        "storage": ("dict", {"cls": "remote", "url": "http://localhost:5002/",}),
-        "max_content_size": ("int", 100 * 1024 * 1024),
-        "save_data": ("bool", False),
-        "save_data_path": ("str", ""),
-    }  # type: Dict[str, Tuple[str, Any]]
-
-    ADDITIONAL_CONFIG = {}  # type: Dict[str, Tuple[str, Any]]
-
     def __init__(
-        self, logging_class: Optional[str] = None, config: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+        self, logging_class: Optional[str] = None,
     ):
-        if config:
-            self.config = config
-        else:
-            self.config = self.parse_config_file(
-                additional_configs=[self.ADDITIONAL_CONFIG]
-            )
+        self.config = load_from_envvar(DEFAULT_CONFIG)
 
         self.storage = get_storage(**self.config["storage"])
 
diff --git a/swh/loader/core/tests/test_loader.py b/swh/loader/core/tests/test_loader.py
--- a/swh/loader/core/tests/test_loader.py
+++ b/swh/loader/core/tests/test_loader.py
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@
 
 
 class DummyLoader:
+    """Base Loader to overload and simplify the base class (technical: to avoid repetition
+       in other *Loader classes)"""
+
     def cleanup(self):
         pass
 
@@ -40,19 +43,10 @@
 
 
 class DummyDVCSLoader(DummyLoader, DVCSLoader):
-    """Unbuffered loader will send directly to storage new data
+    """DVCS Loader that does nothing in regards to DAG objects.
 
     """
 
-    def parse_config_file(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return {
-            "max_content_size": 100 * 1024 * 1024,
-            "storage": {
-                "cls": "pipeline",
-                "steps": [{"cls": "retry",}, {"cls": "filter",}, {"cls": "memory",},],
-            },
-        }
-
     def get_contents(self):
         return []
 
@@ -77,47 +71,23 @@
 
     """
 
-    def parse_config_file(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return {
-            "max_content_size": 100 * 1024 * 1024,
-            "storage": {
-                "cls": "pipeline",
-                "steps": [
-                    {"cls": "retry",},
-                    {"cls": "filter",},
-                    {
-                        "cls": "buffer",
-                        "min_batch_size": {
-                            "content": 2,
-                            "content_bytes": 8,
-                            "directory": 2,
-                            "revision": 2,
-                            "release": 2,
-                        },
-                    },
-                    {"cls": "memory",},
-                ],
-            },
-        }
-
     def store_data(self):
         pass
 
 
-def test_base_loader():
+def test_base_loader(swh_config):
     loader = DummyBaseLoader()
     result = loader.load()
-
     assert result == {"status": "eventful"}
 
 
-def test_dvcs_loader():
+def test_dvcs_loader(swh_config):
     loader = DummyDVCSLoader()
     result = loader.load()
     assert result == {"status": "eventful"}
 
 
-def test_loader_logger_default_name():
+def test_loader_logger_default_name(swh_config):
     loader = DummyBaseLoader()
     assert isinstance(loader.log, logging.Logger)
     assert loader.log.name == "swh.loader.core.tests.test_loader.DummyBaseLoader"
@@ -127,13 +97,13 @@
     assert loader.log.name == "swh.loader.core.tests.test_loader.DummyDVCSLoader"
 
 
-def test_loader_logger_with_name():
+def test_loader_logger_with_name(swh_config):
     loader = DummyBaseLoader("some.logger.name")
     assert isinstance(loader.log, logging.Logger)
     assert loader.log.name == "some.logger.name"
 
 
-def test_loader_save_data_path(tmp_path):
+def test_loader_save_data_path(swh_config, tmp_path):
     loader = DummyBaseLoader("some.logger.name.1")
     url = "http://bitbucket.org/something"
     loader.origin = Origin(url=url)
@@ -179,7 +149,7 @@
         raise RuntimeError("Failed to get contents!")
 
 
-def test_dvcs_loader_exc_partial_visit(caplog):
+def test_dvcs_loader_exc_partial_visit(swh_config, caplog):
     logger_name = "dvcsloaderexc"
     caplog.set_level(logging.ERROR, logger=logger_name)
 
@@ -210,7 +180,7 @@
         self.storage = BrokenStorageProxy(self.storage)
 
 
-def test_dvcs_loader_storage_exc_partial_visit(caplog):
+def test_dvcs_loader_storage_exc_partial_visit(swh_config, caplog):
     logger_name = "dvcsloaderexc"
     caplog.set_level(logging.ERROR, logger=logger_name)