In the modelling, EU imports and exports are divided into 113 categories of products and services, considering the EXIOBASE nomenclature. Yet, a restricted set of “key” products and services is identified on the basis of their “large” contribution to several impact categories (“large” to be understood here as “in comparison with other products and services”). In particular, the 10 products and services which represent the largest contributions to the impacts (so-called Top10, specific to each impact category) stand for 55 to 85% of the total impacts of imports (depending on the impact category under study), and from 51 to 82% of the impacts of exports. In the following, the analysis of key products and services focuses on these Top10 contributors (see Annex 6 for the full list of these Top10 products and services, by impact category).
Regarding the impacts of imports on acidification, eutrophication (terrestrial, freshwater and marine eutrophication), land use and water use, food products and food-related services appear as key contributors (Figure 23). Hotels and restaurants services stand for 14 to 29% of the total impact allocated to import9. Moreover, while food products represent
a relatively large share of impacts (e.g. 22% in terms of terrestrial eutrophication, when only considering food products from the 10 most contributing categories of products and services), it can be specifically noted that meat products represent a relatively important
9 It is noteworthy that international trade of services covers trade between residents and non-residents of an economy, and services delivered through enterprises that are locally established but foreign-controlled (UN, 2011). In particular, regarding the accommodation industry, export transactions account for the expenditures of non-residents tourists and business travellers for their accommodation in the domestic territory (Leurs and Ouradou, 2018).
contribution regarding eutrophication (terrestrial, marine, and freshwater) and land use. In addition to food products, agriculture products also appear as important contributors in the case of water use, for which wheat, cereal grains and crops not elsewhere classified (nec) altogether contribute to 22% of the total impacts allocated to imports. Moreover, several intermediate products (e.g. chemicals nec and basic iron and steel, and products of forestry, wood and products of wood in the specific case of land use) are part of the Top10 contributors for several impact categories. Finally, manufactured products (e.g. motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers) represent a relatively important contribution only in the case of acidification. The main difference in the contribution analysis with respect to imports as opposed to exports is observed considering intermediate and manufactured products. The contribution of intermediate products to the total impacts of exports is very limited, except regarding land use for which pulp and paper contribute up to 16% of the total. On the contrary, the contribution of manufactured products (e.g. machinery and equipment nec and motor vehicles) is important: in particular, the manufactured products which are part of the Top10 contributors stand for 19 to 25% of the total impacts regarding acidification, land use and water use.
Secondly, approximately half of the impacts of imports on toxicity-related categories stem from the import of basic iron and steel, while manufactured products (machinery and equipment nec, motor vehicles, etc.) appear as the second category of most contributing products (Figure 24). On the contrary, in the case of exports, manufactured products stand for the major share of the total impacts: the eight categories of manufactured products, which appear in the Top10 stand for 69-71% of the impacts.
Thirdly, considering impacts of imports on particulate matter, photochemical ozone formation and climate change, basic and intermediate products (in particular basic iron and steel, and rubber and plastic products) stand for the main contribution within the Top 10 products (representing 21-23% of the total impacts), while manufactured products represent a lower contribution.
On the contrary, regarding the impacts of exports, manufactured products (once again machinery and equipment nec, motor vehicles, etc.) represent a major contribution, ranging from 24 to 36% of the total impacts when considering only manufactured products which are part of the Top10.
Finally, considering impacts of imports on resource use (both fossil and mineral resource), raw materials are observed to induce a major contribution, on the one hand due to metals, ores and concentrates (minerals and metals resource use), and on the other hand due to fossil fuels (fossils resource use). Regarding exports, in both cases of impact categories, manufactured products induce a larger contribution than in the case of imports (standing for 21-27% of the total when only considering manufactured products that rank in the Top10), while a lower contribution of raw materials is observed.
Figure 23. The Trade Footprint Top-down of EU: contribution analysis of products, with focus on six impact categories and the 10 products and services which represent the largest contributions to
these impacts.
Note: The 10 products and services which represent the largest contributions to the impacts are gathered into six categories (Food products, Intermediate products, etc.). Their contribution does not sum up to 100%: only the Top10 contributors (in EXIOBASE nomenclature) are represented here.
Figure 24. The Trade Footprint Top-down of EU: contribution analysis of products, with focus on eight impact categories and the 10 products and services which represent the largest contributions
to these impacts.
Note: The 10 products and services which represent the largest contributions to the impacts are gathered into six categories (Food products, Intermediate products, etc.). Their contribution does not sum up to 100%: only the Top10 contributors (in EXIOBASE nomenclature) are represented here.