The global march of carbon-labelling schemes continued yesterday with the news the Japanese government is planning to mark consumer goods with information on their carbon footprint.
According to AFP reports, the trade ministry is planning to launch a trial scheme at some point during the next financial year, beginning in April 2009, that will see a range of products from beverages to detergents carry labels detailing their carbon footprint.
Trade ministry official Shintaro Ishihara told the news agency that the government hoped "that displaying carbon footprints will raise awareness among consumers as well as companies of their emissions and motivate them to emit less C02".
Precise details of the scheme remain sketchy, with the government yet to decide the exact number of products that will carry the labels.
However, the scheme appears to have significant support with more than 20 companies, including retail giant Aeon and drinks company Sapporo Breweries, having joined a panel set up by the ministry earlier this year to investigate the issue.
Work on the necessary carbon footprint labels also appears to be fairly advanced and the ministry claims to have already completed research that shows that a bag of crisps emits 75 grams (2.63 ounces) of carbon dioxide throughout its lifecyle. It calculated that 44 per cent of emissions arising from the product comes from growing potatoes, 30 per cent from production and processing, 15 per cent from the packaging, nine per cent from delivery and two per cent from disposal of the bag.
The scheme is the latest in a number of high-profile initiatives designed to allow firms to measure the full cradle-to-grave carbon impact of their products. The UK's Carbon Trust is undertaking a major labelling trial alongside companies such as Tesco and Boots, while the French government is also working on a similar initiative.
Japanese brewery announces plans to introduce carbon labels for one of its products from next March 23 Jun 2008
As critics accuse carbon labels of confusing customers, supermarket giant insists initiative has proved "encouraging" and cheaper than expected 21 May 2008
Carbon labels represent a great way of forcing firms to face up to their supply chain's carbon footprint. But how do these labels work and which one will win out in the end? Danny Bradbury investigates 24 Jun 2008
Bottled water firm releases carbon data for each of its products 11 Apr 2008
UK Carbon Trust takes labelling scheme Down Under 02 Jul 2009
But you'll have to go to the company's website to find carbon footprint data 09 Mar 2009
Crisp manufacturer becomes first company to retain Carbon Trust footprinting label by successfully cutting emissions seven per cent 17 Feb 2009
Government standards promise to cut vending machine energy use by 42 per cent, saving five million tonnes of CO2 05 Jun 2009Carbon Trust says standard will help promote environmental merits of nation's export goods 11 Nov 2009
Resolution follows similar decision by Shell shareholders last month 09 Feb 2010
Measures needed to ensure cars do not charge from fossil fuel-powered grid 09 Feb 2010
Researchers use salicornia plants in carbon-negative process to grow biofuels 09 Feb 2010
More news
Friends of the Earth’s biofuels campaigner Kenneth Richter argues that biofuel targets are a distraction from tried-and-tested ways of reducing transport emissions 09 Feb 2010
Trewin Restorick wonders if the concept du jour of "nudging" behaviour change can help curb UK carbon emissions 08 Feb 2010
From feed in tariffs to vanishing top soil, we run down the top stories from the past week 08 Feb 2010 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
