Topic Economy and Consumption

Natural resource consumption is determined by production and consumption patterns and by infrastructures. The demand areas of nutrition, housing and mobility are particularly significant. Two thirds of Switzerland's total environmental impact occurs abroad. Extrapolated to the global population, such a consumption of natural resources significantly exceeds the level that can be sustained by nature many times over. Worldwide, at least four of the nine planetary boundaries have been crossed – in relation to climate, biodiversity, deforestation, and phosphorus and nitrogen surpluses. Switzerland also contributes to this through its high per capita consumption.

In a circular economy, raw materials and products are used efficiently and for as long as possible.

The concept of «Food waste» refers to all the food that is wasted or thrown away throughout the whole value chain, from the field to the plate: in agricultural production, in the processing industry, in the catering trade, in the big supermarket chains and finally through private consumption.

Despite efficiency gains, Switzerland is currently far from achieving the sustainable use of resources. As a result of the rising global consumption of resources, climate stability and ecosystems are at the limits of their resilience worldwide. Switzerland is contributing to this through its high consumption of resources per capita. Additional measures are essential so that future-proof, resource-conserving consumption and production models can be strengthened.

Various advisory services are available in the FOEN to provide support on macroeconomic and environmental-economic issues. The main focus of the advisory services is ex ante and ex post evaluations.

The FOEN participates in international initiatives for the promotion of the green economy and shares its experience with other national programmes.