Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy has developed a program to evaluate large electronics retail outlets' efforts to promote energy-efficient products. The assessment program aims to encourage these stores, which are an important link between manufacturers and consumers, to actively market energy-efficient products. The rationale behind the program is that even if energy-efficient products are available, their advantages will not be realized unless consumers purchase and use them.

The "Energy-Saving Products Retailer Evaluation," program which started taking applications on October 1, 2003, assesses electronics stores in areas including management policies, personnel, and sales promotional methods. Individual stores first submit a self-assessment, which is then followed up by an on-site inspection. The program will run through March 2004, at which time the rankings for high-scoring stores will be released.

Evaluation results will be published in newspapers, magazines, journals issued by such entities as consumer groups and non-profit organizations, as well as in local government publications. In addition, high-ranking stores will be presented with an official logo indicating excellence, which they can use to attract shoppers.

Note:Electronics outlets covered under this program are stores having over 1,000 square meters of retail floor space, where home electronics account for at least 50% of total sales.




Posted: 2004/01/05 09:02:50 AM
Japanese version

TAG Eco-product/Business , Energy , Government , NGO/Citizen , Non-manufacturing industry , System/Law