Carbon footprint labels should be displayed on new products say MPs

Labels showing a product's carbon footprint should be displayed on goods and services to help consumers tackle climate change, according to an influential committee of MPs.

Some foods are already displaying "carbon reduction labels"alongside the ingredients to show how much of the greenhouse gas was produced in the manufacture of a product.

However a report from the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) said a proliferation of different environmental labels are confusing for consumers and allow companies to appear more eco-friendly than they actually are in a method known as "greenwash".

The committee wants a robustly monitored system of environmental labels to show the impact of each product, including labels showing the carbon emissions produced, so that consumers can make a more informed choice.