Small Japanese Country Town Launches Carbon Footprint Program

Copyright town of Iinan

The town of Iinan, in Shimane Prefecture started sales of local specialty food products with labels showing the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on May 25, 2009.,It introduced yamatoimo (Japanese mountain yam) as the first product for item and put it on sale at Michi No Eki Akagi Kogen, a local roadside service plaza, as well as at the Iinan Fair held by Kinokuniya supermarket in Kichijoji, Tokyo.

A carbon footprint is the measure of total CO2 emissions generated directly and indirectly throughout the product's life cycle - from raw material procurement to disposal. Having decided to apply a carbon footprint program, the town selected yamatoimo, its main local food products to label:. The labels show the amount of the emissions generated from production through transportation. The town hopes to raise environmental awareness among consumers and accelerate the advancement of environmental measures.

The town's program manager says that there are few competing products at present. He expects carbon footprint labeled products to help raise consumer awareness once the market becomes more robust through healthy competition.

Posted: 2009/09/14 06:0015 AM