The importance of carbon labeling

1. Carbon labeling: benefits to both the consumer and businesses

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Carbon labeling describes the level of
emission of carbon dioxide produced from
manufacturing, transporting, and disposing a
consumer product.
Indicating this information on products is
important to both the consumer and the
business.
Carbon Trust is one example of carbon
labeling scheme

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It is a strategy for reduction of carbon
emission through the power that consumers
have of making a choice.
Consumers who are sensitive about the
environment have to make a choice for
products with the least emissions cycle levels
of green house gasses.

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Businesses play a huge role in promoting
environmental benefits.
By displaying the footprint on products
businesses are taking their part in creating a
green environment and also sensitization in
the minds of consumers to make choices
aimed at improving the environment.

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It helps the consumers to feel good about
their shopping decisions
Helps the consumers to know what products
are more environmental friendly and do not
cost the earth much
Helps the producers and manufacturers of
goods to use more environmental friendly
means of production

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Businesses are required to participate in the
scheme by joining it.
The scheme helps businesses in both public
and private sector to increase their returns by
reducing their emission of green house
gasses
The scheme also helps businesses to use
technologies that reduce on carbon emission

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Joining the scheme for any business requires
that they take part in some simple steps that
ensures they meet the standards of emission
set by the scheme.
For example a food and drinks business
would be advised to ensure that their
refrigeration system and heat distribution is
maintained properly

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Once a company joins the scheme, it has to
be fully committed to it even in the future
Failure to demonstrate commitment, the
company or business is denied using the label
of the scheme
This would have implications of low business
returns if a company leaves the scheme.

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With Carbon Trust, the businesses and
companies are expected to show
commitment at least for two years without
failure
After the two years of commitment the
businesses receive a carbon trust mark or
label for being environmental friendly
Companies may also be discontinued from
the scheme once they fail to show
commitment.

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The companies that are fully participating on
the scheme include mainly food and
beverages companies, retail stores, crops and
animal products processing companies, and
construction.
Wall mart is one of the big names that have
joined the scheme. In the UK they include
Tesco, Walkers, and Boots

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Carbon labeling scheme is an appropriate
strategy for ensuring environmental
sustainability
It requires both the consumer and the
producer to be actively involved in the
scheme by playing their role.
It is also the future of increased business
returns because consumers will only be going
for the products with a footprint

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New York Times “At Wal-Mart, Labels to Reflect Green Intent”.
NYTimes. Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/business/energyenvironment/16walmart.html
Environmental leader “Australia joins carbon reduction label
schemes” Reteived from http://www.environmentalleader.com
Guardian “Japan to launch carbon footprint labeling scheme”
retrieved from
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/20/carbonfoot
prints.carbonemissions
http://www.carboncounted.com/
Marketing week, “Defra proporses green food labeling scheme”
Retrieved from http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/news/defraproposes-green-food-labelling-scheme/3003268.article