Ecological footprint: definition, history and metrics to measure it

Understanding ecological footprint is the first step to recognizing the impact of daily habits over environment and those who live in. One of the many ways that can make a difference to reduce it lies even in the choice of the accommodation for your holidays.

The concept of ecological footprint developed in early 1990s thanks to ecologist Mathis Wackernagel, then a doctoral student at the University of British Columbia, in collaboration with his professor, ecology lecturer William Rees. Their researches were systematized and published in the volume “Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth”, in 1996, which represented a real watershed in contemporary ecological studies.

For the first time, in fact, a quantitative and comparable method was proposed to measure the pressure that human actions exert on the planet’s ecosystems, in an era – between late 1980s and early 1990s – in which was gradually consolidating a greater awareness of the anthropic scope of environmental transformations and growing non-sustainability of industrial, agricultural and urban development models, even outside of academic circles.

Ecological footprint: meaning and how to measure it

The ecological footprint is an environmental analysis tool as sophisticated as accessible in its fundamentals, designed to quantify the ecological impact generated by humans, relating it to the regenerative capacity of the biosphere, so the actual availability of lands and seas to support such consumption. At an operational level, it measures the biologically productive surface area needed to produce everything we consume (food, energy, raw materials, goods and services) and to absorb wastes, in particular carbon dioxide emissions, which constitute the majority of the global environmental impact.

Since 1999, WWF has adopted this method as a reference within its “Living Planet Report” (authoritative periodic report on the state of health of biodiversity and global ecosystems), regularly updating the calculation of the ecological footprint and making it a key indicator for assessing the conditions of the planet, the sustainability of development models and the growing gap between human consumption and Earth’s capacity to regenerate resources.

The meaning of the ecological footprint therefore goes well beyond the mere collection of environmental data or simple sustainability indicators, since its ethical and systemic value profoundly questions our economic and development models, lifestyles and relationship with nature. Understanding the authentic meaning of this indicator means accepting the fact that we live on a planet with finite resources, whose resilience depends on our ability to reduce the pressure we exert on it. But how does the ecological footprint calculation work and why can it represent a starting point for making real changes to your lifestyle?

Calculating ecological footprint: how to measure correctly human impact on the world

Although based on a theoretical model of considerable scientific complexity, the calculation of ecological footprint can be accessible to citizens, businesses and institutions thanks to digital tools and platforms developed by researchers and environmental organizations. These tools collect and analyze multiple data about daily consumption behaviors, including energy needs (electricity, gas, heating), diet (with attention to food’s origin and composition), mobility habits (use of private cars, public transport, flights), purchases kind and frequency, waste production and management, and the structural features of homes (size, thermal insulation, energy sources).

This information is processed through a system of conversion factors that translate human activities into an estimate of the biologically productive surface area needed to support them, expressed in global hectares (gha): standard measurement unit enabling comparison between different territories, populations and economic systems, compensating for differences in ecological productivity at a local level. A global hectare represents one hectare of land or sea with the world average biological productivity, useful for uniformly calculating the pressure exerted over environment.

In detail, the ecological footprint calculation is divided into six main factors:

1. Cultivable surface area, necessary for the production of food and plant fibers;
2. Pastures, used for livestock breeding;
3. Forests, for the production of wood and the absorption of CO2;
4. Marine areas, for fishing and other activities related to fishing industry;
5. Built-up land, like infrastructure, roads, buildings and human settlements;
6. Carbon absorption capacity, forests surface area (or other ecosystems) necessary to absorb carbon dioxide emissions not neutralized by other means.

The result of this calculation allows to compare overall ecological footprint of an individual, a community or a nation with the bio-capacity of that territory in question, thus with the quantity of natural resources actually available to regenerate what’s consumed and absorb wastes. When the footprint exceeds the bio-capacity it occurs an ecological deficit, a situation in which the demand for ecological resources exceeds the sustainable supply of the natural system. Over time, this imbalance leads to the degradation of ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity, soil erosion and climate change, making clear the urge to review production and consumption models on a global scale.

The main reasons behind a high ecological footprint

The high ecological footprint that characterizes most of “high-income” countries is caused by complex systemic dynamics of economic, cultural and technological nature, which fuel an energy-intensive, hyper-productive and largely unsustainable development in the long term.

The main structural causes include, first of all, the massive use of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, used for the production of electricity, heating, transport and industrial processes, with a consequent increase in climate-altering gases emissions and the need for absorption by natural ecosystems, primarily forests.

A second critical area is the global agri-food system, dominated by intensive agriculture and industrial livestock farming practices, which entail excessive consumption of water, chemical fertilizers, fertile soil and energy inputs, contributing significantly to deforestation, loss of biodiversity and emissions of greenhouse gases with high warming and polluting potential.

The mobility industry plays a key role in determining overall ecological footprint: the main reliance on road and air transport, combined with widespread in efficiency of local public transport in many urban areas, contributes to increasing the consumption of fossil fuels and individual emissions, worsening both personal and collective “carbon footprint”.

In addition, a consumer culture characterized by impulsive purchasing, quick replacement of still-functioning goods (considering the phenomenon of planned obsolescence) and “linear” production and disposal models, which generates large volumes of waste and determines a growing demand for raw materials, extracted with high invasive methods for local ecological balances.

Further pressures originate from uncontrolled urbanization, with a progressive consumption of biologically productive land in favor of impermeable infrastructures, with consequent loss of natural habitats and reduction of the ecosystem’s capacity to regenerate resources. The acceleration of environmental degradation phenomena like desertification, soil and water pollution, ocean acidification and destruction of ecosystems such as tropical forests and coral reefs, further compromises planet’s ability to provide for key “ecosystem services” to human survival and climate stability.

This growing imbalance between consumption and regeneration finds an effective synthesis in a temporal indicator: Earth Overshoot Day, the date on which humanity exhausts annual “ecological budget” made available by nature. In concrete terms, the moment in which the demand for natural resources (food, wood, water, energy) and ecosystem services (such as the absorption of carbon emissions) exceeds planet’s capacity to regenerate them in the same year. From the following day until the end of the year, global consumption translates into an unsustainable withdrawal eroding natural wealth and compromising the resilience of ecosystems. For example, in 2024 the Earth Overshoot Day fell on August 2, which means that humanity has been living “on ecological credit” for five months, depending on resources that the Earth cannot regenerate in times compatible with the natural cycle.

The good news is that there are many strategies to reduce global ecological footprint – some promoted by governments and institutions through policies and investments, some others adopted by each of us on a daily basis. Even small individual actions can indeed significantly contribute to easing the pressure on ecosystems and bringing to a more sustainable lifestyle.

10 daily strategies to reduce your own ecological footprint

Although ecological footprint is the result of economic, social and cultural dynamics spread on a global scale, the possibility of effectively intervening to reduce environmental pressure is not exclusive interest of institutions or large companies, but rather closely concerns every individual, every family and every local community. Our daily behaviors represent a fundamental field of action, and even apparently little changes produce significant effects.

Following, ten practical and accessible advice that, if implemented with continuity and awareness, concretely contribute to reducing individual ecological footprint and the load exerted on ecosystems, promoting a more harmonious relationship with the planet.

1. Prefer a vegetable-based diet with fresh and local products

Significantly reducing the consumption of meat and animal products, favoring instead plant-based foods from organic local crops, allows to decrease greenhouse gas emissions related to the intensive production of meat and derivatives, main responsible for the production of methane and nitrous oxide, and the use of water, pesticides and chemical fertilizers, thus contributing to the protection of soil, the preservation of biodiversity and the regeneration of agricultural ecosystems. Furthermore, choosing local and seasonal products reduces the energy needed for foods transportation and preservation, avoiding waste through conscious meal planning and a correct reuse of leftovers.

2. Choose low-impact means of transport

The transport field is one of the main sources of CO2 emissions, especially in urban contexts. To reduce its ecological footprint, is key to prefer sustainable modes of travel: walking, cycling, public means of transport, or even car sharing and car pooling systems. When a car is essential, opting for hybrid or electric vehicles make a big difference. Reducing the amount of plane trips and choosing local and slow forms of tourism can also exert a positive impact on one’s individual ecological footprint.

3. Optimize your home energy consumption

Private homes are responsible for a significant share of global energy consumption. Targeted interventions, like installing solar panels, thermally insulating walls, double-glazing windows, adopting LED light bulbs and using household appliances responsibly (like using them at full load and at the correct timing), reduce emissions related to air conditioning and electricity. Small daily measures, such as turning off unused lights and unplugging devices on standby, therefore contribute to a more responsible way of using energy, with positive effects on both bills and environmental burden.

4. Avoid hurry purchases and look for durable products

Our material footprint is closely linked to the quantity, quality and durability of the goods we purchase. Opting for durable and repairable products designed to last over time allows to significantly reduce the use of new resources and to prevent the production of wastes. Learning about the origin, materials and lifecycle of the things we use everyday, with a conscious approach to purchasing based on “buy less but better”, means opposing the logic of planned obsolescence and promoting the value of craftsmanship and local economies, supporting the culture of quality over quantity.

5. Reduce garbage and adopt circular economy practices

Adopting a circular approach to manage post-consumer materials means intervening since the initial stages of the products life cycle, by reducing waste at the source and favoring a creative reuse and conscious recycling. Preferring products without extra packaging, using reusable items like steel water bottles, washable food containers and fabric bags, correctly composting organic waste and carefully practicing separate waste collection, they are all concrete actions that contribute to significantly limiting wastes of materials destined to landfill or incineration. Is useful also to be participating in collective activities, such as days dedicated to cleaning parks, beaches or green areas, initiatives undertaken in many cities, which are important for strengthening the sense of shared responsibility and nurturing a deeper bond with the territory and ecosystems we live in.

6. Consume water responsibly

In a world marked by increasing drought and water stress, conscious water management represents the most urgent and crucial environmental challenge, to which we’re all called to respond. Installing low-flow devices, using washing machines and dishwashers only if fully loaded, preferring showers instead of long baths or leveraging rainwater for non-potable uses, like irrigation or cleaning outdoor spaces, are all actions that (really) make a difference – for the planet, yet for the wallet. But the individual water footprint is not limited to direct consumption: this is where the concept of “virtual” water comes into play, the water used in the production processes of goods and services we consume everyday. For example, the production of a pair of jeans requires up to 10k liters of water over the entire production chain, from cotton cultivation to processing and packaging. Thus is essential to consciously choose fabrics and agricultural products that – with equal quality and performance – require less water resources.

7. Support ethical and sustainable economies

Every purchase is a vote for the kind of future we want to shape. Supporting companies that operate transparently throughout their supply chain, respect workers rights, promote animal welfare and responsibly manage natural resources means encouraging an economy that dissociates from indiscriminate environmental exploitation, based instead on equality and social and environmental responsibility. It’s good choosing products certified with recognized environmental and social labels (Fair Trade, Ecolabel, FSC, Rainforest Alliance) to strengthen the demand for a fairer and more sustainable market, based on respect for the environment and people.

8. Prefer recycle, exchange and sharing

Strictly applying the rule of 3R – reducing waste, reusing things and recycling materials – for example by putting clothes, furniture, appliances and tools back into circulation through the second-hand markets, online exchange, sharing economy platforms (like gift groups) or by preferring DIY and creative recycling, they’re excellent ways to reduce pressure on resources and promote more collaborative and participatory consumption models.

9. Educate yourself and others to sustainability

Awareness is the first, fundamental step towards change. To follow the path to reducing one’s ecological footprint, it is key to learn about environmental issues in depth, participate in events, courses and awareness-raising activities, read books, believe reliable sources, and therefore develop critical thinking to make choices in a more conscious and targeted way. It is equally important to share new knowledge learned about sustainability with others, whether within one’s family, at school, in the workplace or social media. Is a fundamental step forward in creating a collective culture oriented to respect for environment, building more resilient, committed and responsible communities.

10. Measure your own ecological footprint

Measuring your environmental impact is an act of responsibility. Many online tools, such as the official calculator of the Global Footprint Network, allow to estimate your own ecological footprint starting from simple and concrete data. Knowing your consumption profile allows to quantify habits and identify actions to prioritize to reduce your individual impact. In other words, a way to move from awareness to real action. When is not possible to further reduce your ecological footprint, or you feel like taking further steps to protect planet’s health, there are several options to compensate it, like supporting certified reforestation, ecosystem conservation and emission reduction programs, for a direct action on environmental regeneration and global biodiversity protection.

Awareness of ecological footprint as a tool for measuring direct impact is only the first step in a broader journey, which should lead to the reduction of environmental damage and to a real cultural and social shift, looking for the regeneration of natural systems, cooperation between communities and the construction of resilient and supportive local economies.

Acting at an individual level is therefore essential, even more effective when committing to sustainability extends to organizations and accommodation facilities that, like Forte Village Resort, choose to integrate ecological principles and good environmental practices in every aspect of their business, offering a virtuous model of shared responsibility.

The effort for environment and sustainability by Forte Village Resort

Immersed in over 50 hectares of greenery characterized by incredible natural biodiversity, near some of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia, Forte Village Resort – a five-star tourist facility recently awarded, for the twenty-sixth time in a row, as “most beautiful resort in the world” at the World Travel Awards 2024 – confirms itself as a true point of reference also for environmental protection and the promotion of concrete initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of its services on surrounding ecosystems.

A constant commitment that has allowed it to achieve, for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024), the renowned “Green Resort” certification from the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council), one of the most prestigious awards in the sustainable tourism industry. An award that is acknowledged exclusively to facilities that adhere to strict environmental, social and economic criteria, with particular emphasis on their actions aimed at reducing the ecological footprint and promoting responsible tourism.

Among many initiatives undertaken by the Resort in Santa Margherita di Pula to promote the environmental sustainability and the conservation of ecosystems, and so to minimize its ecological footprint, there are:

• Wastewater treatment and reuse: everyday, approximately 800 cubic m of “grey” wastewater from the resort’s facilities are purified. Once treated, this water is used to irrigate green areas and gardens, reducing the consumption of pure clean water;
• Rainwater collecting: the resort invested in advanced rainwater collecting systems, with a total storage capacity of over 350k cubic m, equivalent to approximately 141 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This water is used primarily for irrigation, further contributing to the conservation of clean water resources;
• Use of renewable energy: to reduce dependence on traditional energy sources, Forte Village installed photovoltaic systems on many facilities, including the conference center, which hosts product launches and other MICE events, and solar panels for the production of domestic hot water in Borgo, Palme and Bouganville hotels. The resort uses LED lighting systems with timers for green areas, inner spaces and public areas;
• Sustainable mobility: a strict “car-free” policy applies within the resort, which means that the circulation of cars in the structure is prohibited, promoting instead the use of bicycles and electric cars (it includes several charging stations in the car parks);
• Protection of biodiversity: Forte Village is located in over 50 hectares of greenery, characterized by a rich and varied biodiversity, carefully protected through eco-friendly gardening practices, such as the exclusive use of natural fertilizers and the adoption of a biological-based system for the control of parasites and diseases and to keep the ecological balance of the area;
• Waste management policies: the property adopted a rigorous waste management policy for years, with separate waste collection systems that allows for separation and recycling as much as possible, and the adoption of composting and resource recovery practices, like paper, plastic and glass;
• Sustainable cuisine: the promotion of sustainability also involves what we put on the plates. The gourmet starred restaurants in Forte Village commit to using, wherever possible, local and organic ingredients for the preparation of meals, some of which grown directly in the resort’s garden. This choice contributes to the reduction of emissions due to food transport, and supports local economy, employment and traditional crops;
• Coastal conservation and protection of seaside ecosystems: last but not least, the Resort actively commits to protecting the coast that extends in front of its facilities, adopting targeted protection measures to hinder coastal erosion. In particular, it has created a system of artificial islands, built with natural materials combined with eco-friendly and innovative solutions. These islands protect the beach from erosion, yet create new marine ecosystems promoting local biodiversity and respecting natural landscapes. It also actively participates in the project Fishing For Litter, an initiative born from the collaboration with Ogyre, Italian startup focused on the protection of marine ecosystems, which involves local fishing communities in the collection of sea waste trapped in fishing nets. The goal is to collect 4 million kg of waste by the end of 2025. An initiative that significantly contributes to the protection of the Sardinian sea, the most beautiful and pristine in Italy, and promotes a healthier and pollution-free marine environment.

For further information on Forte Village Resort’s projects and initiatives to reduce its ecological footprint and promote environmental protection, or for requesting a reservation, please call to +390709218818 or send an email to holiday@fortevillage.com.

Do you want to experience a low environmental impact holiday in a true natural paradise? Discover Forte Village Resort in Sardinia