This study examines the impact of Switzerland’s consumption on the domestic and foreign environment in the last 15 years basing on emissions, trade and life cycle assessment data. Besides the overall environmental impact, specific consumption-based indicators were calculated for greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, land use, water use, nitrogen and primary energy consumption.

It reveals that the total environmental impact caused within Switzerland during the period of study has significantly decreased. However, this decrease has largely been offset by Switzerland's growing environmental impact abroad. In order to reach an environmentally-sustainable level, Switzerland's overall environmental impact must be reduced by at least half.