Requirements on Consumer Information about Product ... - ANEC

Consumer Information about PCF
for conveying product information which can, in turn, encourage carbon-conscious consumption
habits. These requirements are presently not fulfilled by a Carbon Label.
In general communication and labelling of PCF-connected information is done in order to
address one of the four aims shown in the following table.
Table 2
Overview on different categories of carbon labels available on the market.
Nr.
PCF-connected information is done in order to Example of according labels on the market
. . . Name Website
1
Display the calculated PCF (with or without
benchmarking scale)
Casino Carbon Index /
Groupe Casino Indice
Carbone
(Delahaye 2008)
www.produitscasino.fr
2
Display that the product belongs to the best in
class products concerning PCF without showing
any figures (e.g. in connection with a type I label)
Climatop award for low
carbon, best in class
products (Schmid 2009)
www.climatop.ch
3
Display the calculated PCF and planned or
achieved reduction in PCF (as sheer commitment
or in the form of figures)
Carbon Trust Reduction
label
www.carbonlabel.com
4
Display that the PCF generated by the product is
compensated, the product therefore is CO2-
neutral
Certified Carbonfree – a
CO2e-neutral label
www.carbonfund.org
The number of international initiatives on CO2 labelling and climate-related product labelling
increased sharply in 2008. Against this background only single examples of the most
important type of labels will be discussed on the following, this list of examples is not
exhaustive. As mentioned earlier, most carbon labels are currently developed for food
products. In the following the examples for labels given in Table 2 are described and
analysed more detailed:
(1) Casino Carbon Index / Groupe Casino Indice Carbone –
(Delahaye 2008, http://www.produits-casino.fr):
Description:
The Casino Carbon Index belongs to the category of labels that
display the calculated PCF – and in this case – together with a
benchmarking scale.
The label is proprietary for Groupe Casino a major French Retail
group. Aim of the label – according to its proprietary – is to
create transparency and to enable consumers to take informed decisions on climate-aware
consumption.
The Casino Carbon Index is symbolised by a green leaf and displayed in grams CO2e per
100 g of product on the front side of the package. On the backside of the package Casino
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