Carbon footprint in Japan

November 25, 2008 | Staff Essay

by: Shoko Sugasawa

One of Japanese largest brewery company, Sapporo breweries has announced to release canned beer with its carbon footprint label in 2009.

Carbon footprint is an index which shows the amount of GHG emitted during whole lifecycle of goods or services. Lifecycle includes production, use, and disposal.

The movement of carbon footprint has started in UK.[carbon reduction label]
Carbon Reduction Label is created by UK's leading authority, the Carbon trust.

http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/default.ct
The Carbon trust has conducted experimental projects of Carbon Reduction Label　with several companies in UK.As a international movement concerning carbon footprint, ISO has started to consider adding a calculation of carbon footprint to ISO standards.

In Japan, Ministry of Economy,Trade and Industry(METI) has been addressing on setting up a domestic committee to aim establishment of carbon footprint policy.
METI will also exhibit sample products with carbon footprint calculated by dozens of companies in Eco-Products Exhibition 2008. Issues of carbon footprint in Japan has just started.

日本でカーボンフットプリントに関する取り組みが見られるようになった。
カーボンフットプリントは、商品がそのライフサイクルに渡って
放出する二酸化炭素などの地球温暖化ガス放出量を換算したもの。
イギリスから発祥した考えで、国際的に展開してきている。
エコプロダクツ展2008においても、経産省により、実際に換算された
カーボンフットプリントを表示したサンプル商品が展示される予定。