DSS
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
The indicator shows the impacts across all areas of the environment both in Switzerland and abroad arising from Swiss final demand. For example, raw materials are required for the production of consumer goods, and land and water are required by settlements, transport, and for the production of food and animal feed. While the overuse of resources in Switzerland is likely to affect the economic system and quality of life here in the medium to long term, it is already having severe impacts in other countries, for example due to the logging of forests, climate change and water scarcity.
poor
positive
Per capita
The total environmental footprint decreased by 21 % between 2000 and 2023 (with annual fluctuations), from around 37 to 29 million eco-points. Since many products are imported, the environment is mainly impacted abroad. In 2023, around 77 % of the environmental impact occurred beyond national borders.
The total environmental impact exceeds the threshold values for sustainable resource use, which are based on ecological boundaries. The reduction achieved so far is not sufficient to reach a resource-compatible level – the footprint would have to be reduced by around 73% (EBP/Impact Economics 2026).
Furthermore, the progress made so far does not cover all environmental areas. Finally, the footprint increased in 2023 compared to the previous year (around +10 %). This is why the status is assessed as poor.
Since the production and consumption of goods and services are associated with environmental impacts, one might expect the total impact to increase in line with final demand. This is not the case: while Swiss final demand increased between 2000 and 2023, the total environmental impact decreased. The development is therefore assessed positively.
The current development is due, for example, to successes in Switzerland in air pollution control and the protection of the ozone layer. Legal requirements and technological developments have played a central role. Larger market shares of environmentally friendly goods and services may also have contributed.
In absolute terms
The absolute total environmental footprint has fallen by over 1% over the entire period under review, taking into account the increase in the Swiss resident population.
Efficiency
During the period under review, the efficiency of the total environmental impact improved: the efficiency index rose from 100 to 138. A long-term decoupling between prosperity and total environmental impact has therefore taken place.
The indicator in eco-points is quantified on the basis of Switzerland’s environmental policy targets. Hence there is no international comparison. The approach has been adopted in the scientific debate in other countries like Germany and Japan.
Method for aggregating different types of environmental impact: In order to record and evaluate the total impact across all environmental factors such as emissions in the air and water, heavy metals in the ground, consumption of raw materials, etc., methods are required that are also capable of expressing environmental impacts as a figure. This example uses the ecological scarcity method – also known as the UBP method. This method expresses all environmental impacts in the unit of eco-points (Umweltbelastungspunkte, UBP). In the UBP method, the various environmental impacts are weighted according to the distance of the current environmental situation (emissions and demand on resources) to the existing targets of a country or region using eco-factors (“distance-to-target approach”). In Switzerland, the UBP method is geared towards Switzerland’s environmental goals and international environmental goals supported by Switzerland, which are in turn based on scientific knowledge. The further a current pollutant emission is from the target, the greater the significance of its environmental impact within the overall balance. However, the true extent of the environmental impact ultimately depends on the quantity of pollutants emitted. The emitted quantity is therefore multiplied with the eco-factor of the emission.
Footprint perspective method: When modelling the environmental impact caused by final demand, consideration is given to the entire value chain for all goods and services consumed, i.e. the extraction, production and transportation, etc., right up to their use and disposal. In addition to the resources used and emissions produced in Switzerland, the pressure on the environment in other countries is also taken into account. The environmental impact caused by export goods is deducted, as this is not included in domestic consumption. This is in line with the system boundaries of the footprint or consumption perspective.
The underlying calculation comes from the publication : EBP & Impact Economics. 2026. Umwelt-Fussabdrücke der Schweiz: Entwicklung zwischen 2000 und 2023. Bundesamt für Umwelt. Download
Comparison with the “ecological footprint”: This indicator is related to, but should not be confused with, the “ecological footprint” as defined by the Global Footprint Network. From the point of view of consumption, this indicator consolidates direct land use, wild-caught fish, and the areas of forest (theoretically) required to offset fossil carbon emissions into one figure. The ecological footprint is not a comprehensive environmental indicator. It does not take account of consumption of fresh water and other renewable and non-renewable natural resources, the loss of biodiversity or the environmental impact of air pollutants, heavy metals, nitrogen and persistent pollutants. Its main benefits are clear communication and widespread recognition. As a projection, Switzerland’s ecological footprint exceeds its global biocapacity by almost three times. Despite major methodical differences, the resulting need for action is similar to that produced by the UBP method.
| Targeted trend | Initial value | Final value | Variation in % | Observed trend | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decrease | Average 2000-2002 | Average 2021-2023 | -25.01% | Decrease | positive |
| Basis: Total pressure | |||||