The total ecological footprint of consumption is measured in global hectares (gha) and includes the area needed to produce the materials consumed and the area needed to absorb the carbon dioxide emissions. The consumption footprint of a nation is calculated as a nation's primary production footprint plus the Footprint of imports minus the footprint of exports.

For example, if a country grows cotton for export, the ecological resources required are not included in that country's consumption footprint. Rather, they are included in the consumption Footprint of the country that imports the T-shirts. However, these ecological resources are included in the exporting country's primary production footprint.