Global Biodiversity Loss by Freshwater Consumption and Eutrophication from Swiss Food Consumption

We
investigated water-related resource use, emissions and ecosystem
impacts of food consumed in Switzerland. To do so, we coupled LCA
methodologies on freshwater consumption, freshwater eutrophication
and the consequent local and global biodiversity impacts with Swiss
customs data and multiregional input-output analysis. Most of the
resource use, emissions and impacts occur outside the national boundaries
which illustrates the extent of environmental outsourcing facilitated
by international trade. Countries that are severely affected by Swiss
food consumption include Spain, the United States and Ecuador. Cocoa,
coffee, and almonds stood out as products with high impacts. By identifying
spatial hotspots and impactful products, awareness of policy-makers
as well as individual consumers can be raised and efforts of detailed
assessments can be streamlined. However, political and economic constraints
and the resistance by individual consumers limit the high potential
of changes in diets and trade relations to decrease the environmental
impacts of food.