Japan to label goods' carbon footprints

August 19, 2008

Japan is planning to label consumer goods to show their carbon footprints in a bid to raise public awareness about global warming, an official said Tuesday. Under the plan, a select range of products from beverages to detergent will carry markings on the carbon footprint -- or how much gas responsible for global warming has been emitted through production and delivery. The ministry's research shows one example of carbon footprint using potato crisps. A bag of crisps emits 75 grams (2.63 ounces) of carbon dioxide. Forty-four percent of the C02 comes from growing potatoes and another 30 percent from production of the processed food. Another 15 percent comes from the packaging, nine percent from delivery and two percent from disposal of the bag.

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