MONET 2030: Material footprint


SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Swiss target 8.4: Companies adopt closed-loop approaches that are more efficient and sparing in the use of resources to optimise their procurement and production processes, products and business models.

Significance of the indicator
This indicator shows domestic raw material consumption (RMC), also known as material footprint. As well as raw materials extracted in Switzerland, the material footprint also takes into account the total amount of raw materials used abroad during the production and transport processes of goods and services consumed in Switzerland. In the interests of sustainable development, global economic exchanges should encourage the sparing use of natural resources in Switzerland and in countries from which Switzerland imports goods and services. In this respect, a reduction in this footprint is therefore a step towards sustainable development.  

International comparability
The flows in raw material equivalents cannot be measured directly and therefore have to be modelled. Internationally, there are a number of statistical approaches for estimating these flows. The data for this indicator are calculated according to a method developed by Eurostat. Only a small number of European countries currently publish this type of data. Eurostat publishes these data at EU level.


Tables

Methodology

This indicator describes raw material consumption caused by domestic final demand.

The data concerning domestic raw material consumption are collected as part of the environmental accounts compiled by the Federal Statistical Office, which are satellite accounts of the national accounts. The environmental accounts are in line with the UN’s System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA). The data presented in this indicator are based on an adaptation of the Eurostat method, which involves converting a country’s imports and exports into raw material equivalents (RME). RME indicators are the result of modelling and entail greater uncertainty than direct flow indicators. They should therefore be considered as estimates.

Domestic final demand is calculated according to the national accounts and corresponds to the total final consumption expenditure of households and public administrations, gross fixed capital formation and changes in inventories.

Targets

Swiss target 8.4: Companies adopt closed-loop approaches that are more efficient and sparing in the use of resources to optimise their procurement and production processes, products and business models.

International target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead.

Contact

Federal Statistical Office Section Environment, Sustainable Development, Territory
Espace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Tel.
+41 58 460 58 46

Monday - Friday:
09.00 - 12.00 / 14.00 - 16.00

Contact

Remark

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