Green+ Malaysia's Premier Eco-friendly, Sustainable and Green Business Magazine

ENERGY
SIRIM introduces new labels
with enhanced security features
Launches carbon footprint certification scheme and SIRIM Eco-Innovation Services
By Kevin Wong
CARBON FOOTPRINT
SIRIM QAS International
Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary
of SIRIM Berhad,
will introduce new
design labels for its
Product Certification Scheme,
with enhanced security features
beginning January 1, 2015.
The introduction of the
labels is in line with efforts to
ensure consumer goods such
as electrical, helmets, seat
belts and fire protection equipment
controlled by the Energy
Commission, Department of
Road Transport Malaysia
and Malaysian Fire and
Rescue Department, pass
the required testings and
only use valid labels from
SIRIM.
The new labels are
equipped with enhanced
security features including the
use of thermochromic ink and
new designs; are applicable to all
controlled items except telecommunications
and multimedia
devices that will continue to use
the existing labels.
SIRIM Berhad’s Senior Director
of Energy and Environment
Flagship, Research and
Technology Innovation Division,
Dr Chen Sau Soon said: “The
carbon footprint label is being
used in Thailand, Korea, Japan,
China and Europe.
“The scheme is another step
forward to reduce CO2 emissions.
A group of companies has successfully
received the honour
of being among the first manufacturers
to have their products
certified under the scheme, with
carbon footprint information
displayed on their products.”
The labelling scheme was
developed as a result of the
Switch-Asia Grant to SIRIM
Berhad for the development of
an Environmental Declaration
Scheme for Construction and
SIRIM Eco-Innovation Services was launched by Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Dr.
Ewon Ebin in conjunction with the opening of the National Innovation Conference and Exhibition (NICE) 2014
. SIRIM Eco-Innovation Services is aimed at packaging economic and environmental target into business
strategies to enable companies gain competitive advantage, new market segment, or new revenue stream.
Building Materials.
Chen added SIRIM also
developed a toolkit called
the Karbon Kalkulator to
enable companies calculate
carbon emissions,
based on the specific PCRs.
The verification of the data
collected according to the
requirements of each PCR is then
done by SIRIM QAS International,
as an independent third party
certification body. If the results
are acceptable, certification will
be granted.
SIRIM Berhad began work on
the scheme in January last year,
with 45 companies invited to
participate.
Chen pointed out the response
by the companies has been very
encouraging, despite participation
being on a voluntary basis.
After several engagement
sessions to explain to them the
relevance of this scheme, SIRIM
is now assisting them via the
Karbon Kalkulator to calculate the
carbon figures.
SIRIM QAS International
Sustainability Certification
Section Head Aminah Ang said
the main objective of the carbon
footprint labelling scheme was
to develop guidelines, tools
and supporting mechanisms
for product footprinting and
Dr. Chen Sau Soon, Senior
Director, Energy and Environment
Flagship, Research and
Technology Innovation Division,
SIRIM Berhad
labelling that meet the needs
of the local and international
market, and to create the
recognition and preference for
sustainable products from small
and medium enterprises.
She added that purchasers
and users would find the scheme
helpful in making product comparison.
Companies could make
an assessment of the carbon
footprint based on the figure
printed on the product.
The scheme also aims to
provide information for assessing
the environmental impact of
products over their life cycle and
encourage continuous improvement
of the environmental
performance of products.
“The scheme will provide a
quantified greenhouse gas profile
for the life cycle of a product
to enable better comparisons
between products,” she pointed
out.
SIRIM ECO-INNOVATION
SERVICES
The newly launched SIRIM Eco-
Innovation Services is aimed at
packaging economic and environmental
target into business
strategies to enable companies
gain competitive advantage, new
market segment, or new revenue
stream.
The business model that will
be developed will identify innovations
whether at the product
(goods/services) level, market
approach and even organisation
structure.
The SIRIM Eco-Innovation
Services was launched by
Minister of Science, Technology
and Innovation, Datuk Dr.
Ewon Ebin in conjunction with
the opening of the National
Innovation Conference and
Exhibition (NICE) 2014 here,
Friday.
SIRIM’s President and Chief
Executive Dato’ Dr. Zainal Abidin
10
november-december, green+.2014