Japan to launch carbon footprint labelling program

NowPublic News Coverage: "Labels breaking down the carbon emitted in production, packaging, transportation, and disposal will appear starting next spring on a wide range of Japanese consumer goods. Because the program is entirely voluntary -- Japan's biggest corporations have an incentive to take part because the market for eco-friendly products is becoming increasingly lucrative -- it may bridge the confounding gap between free-marketers and people who think the government should be the one to spearhead environmental reform."

Sapporo, a leading Japanese brewery, has already said it will carry the labels on cans of its popular Black Label beer. Shoppers will be told how much CO2 is emitted by the machinery used to plant barley and hops, during production and transportation, and when the empty can is recycled.

Although the labeling scheme is voluntary, few firms want to be seen to be lagging behind rivals in the rush to corner the growing market in eco-friendly products. The supermarket firm Aeon, as well as the convenience store chains Lawson and Seven-Eleven and the electronics maker Matsushita are among the firms taking part.