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Consumption-based emissions in Swedish households

SEI's Consumption Compass 2.0 provides detailed, high-resolution data on household consumption-based emissions at fine geographical scales across Sweden.

Consumption Compass 2.0 is a web-based tool developed by SEI to track and visualize household consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions across Sweden. It provides detailed emissions data for 107 indirect consumption categories (COICOP), plus two categories of direct emissions from transport and energy use, downscaled to nearly 6000 Demographic Statistical Areas (DeSOs).

The dataset integrates national statistics with local data on lifestyle, income and consumption patterns using a hybrid top-down and bottom-up approach. Emissions are broken down into indirect emissions (from the production and supply of goods and services) and direct emissions (from household fuel use and private vehicle travel), capturing impacts across transport, food, housing energy and goods.

Covering the years 2019–2023, the tool features interactive visualizations including maps, time series and comparative graphs that illustrate differences in emissions across regions, years and consumption areas. It also includes a scenario function for modelling potential emission reductions through behavioural changes – such as reduced air travel or lower meat consumption – through to 2050.

Donut chart titled “Top 5 consumption categories in Sweden” showing per capita greenhouse gas emissions (in kg CO₂e), totaling 5,562 kg CO₂e per capita. Transport accounts for 1,904 kg (34%), food and non-alcoholic beverages 1,127 kg (20%), housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels 787 kg (14%), recreation, sport, and culture 450 kg (8%), furnishings, household equipment, and routine maintenance 259 kg (4.7%), and other categories 1,032 kg (19%).

Figure showing the top consumption categories contributing to individual greenhouse gas emissions in Sweden. Transport and food dominate emissions, making up over half of the total per capita emissions.

Relevance for policy and decision-makers

For local and regional governments, the Consumption Compass 2.0 provides a concrete basis for integrating consumption-based emissions into climate action plans. It helps identify which household behaviors and consumption areas drive emissions locally, supporting targeted interventions. The scenario function allows planners to model pathways to 2050 climate goals, informing priority setting and stakeholder engagement.

Relevance for researchers

Researchers benefit from the tool’s high-resolution, consumption-based emissions estimates across time and geography. The model supports studies on climate inequality, regional policy impacts and behavioural interventions. It also provides a transparent, replicable framework for further exploration into sustainable lifestyles and indirect emissions.

Methodology

Consumption Compass 2.0 estimates household consumption-based emissions using a hybrid approach, combining national statistics with local lifestyle and behavioural data. Key sources include:

  • Consumption statistics from Statistics Sweden (SCB)
  • Lifestyle segmentation and travel data from Mosaic/InsightOne and the Swedish Transport Agency
  • Energy use statistics from SCB, Boverket, Energy Authority and Swedenergy
    Emissions are estimated for 109 categories (107 COICOP categories plus two direct emissions categories) and downscaled to the DeSO level. Estimates are aligned with national totals for consistency and transparency, with one exception: air travel, where the model includes the additional impact of long-haul flights and so-called “high-altitude effects.”

A pie chart illustrates the contribution of each data source: 

Pie chart showing the share of emissions estimated by different data sources used in SEI’s Consumption Compass 2.0. The majority (80%) comes from Mosaic and InsightOne data, broken down into transportation (31%), lifestyle consumption (29%), and grocery/food diet distributions (20%). Other sources include the household budget survey (13%), household energy consumption (7%), and household income data (0.2%).

The majority of emissions are estimated using Mosaic and InsightOne data (80%), including lifestyle, food, and transport data. Household budget survey data contributes 13%, followed by household energy consumption data (7%) and income-based estimates (0.2%).

Municipalities are the primary target audience for the tool, as they play a central role in promoting sustainable consumption patterns and emissions reductions. The tool is also designed to support engagement with the general public, while regional authorities, researchers and civil society organizations represent additional key user groups.

By combining granular data with intuitive visual outputs, Consumption Compass 2.0 enables users to better understand and act on the climate impact of consumption.

Limitations and considerations

  • The model estimates climate impact based on monetary flows, which means it inherits limitations of environmentally extended input-output (EEIO) methods. These include grouping diverse products into broad sectors and assuming a linear relationship between spending and emissions. As a result, the model may not distinguish between different consumption behaviours with similar costs but different climate impacts.
  • Some categories rely on limited data, and assumptions – such as uniform dietary patterns across regions – may not fully capture local or rapid behavioural shifts. Emissions from air travel are modelled due to gaps in official data, particularly regarding long-haul flights and high-altitude effects.
  • Additionally, the model (like national statistics) does not capture direct imports through e-commerce platforms or household investments such as major renovations or new construction.
  • Data for 2023 is based on projections using historical trends and will be updated as official data becomes available.

Citation and copyright

Axelsson, K., Walke, P., Broekhoff, D., Yu, A. C.-W., & André, K. (2025). Consumption Compass 2.0 (Version 05/2025) [Computer software]. SEI. https://konsumtionskompassen.se/

SEI’s Consumption Compass and its data is protected under the Creative Commons license: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. © Stockholm Environment Institute 2022.

Partners and funder

Consumption Compass 2.0 was developed by SEI with financial support from Formas – the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development. The tool was created in close collaboration with Kalmar Municipality and Umeå Municipality. Key data support was provided by InsightOne, and web integration by Cloudberry.

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