Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Carbon Trust label?

Simply put, the Carbon Trust Reduction Label (or "carbon reduction label", "carbon label" or "label") is a public display of the carbon footprint* (or "carbon content") of a product (reference to "product" includes goods and services), from source to store and product disposal. The label also asserts a commitment on the part of the producer to a 'reduce or lose' policy whereby if they fail to reduce the carbon footprint of the product over a two-year period they will have the label withdrawn by the Carbon Trust.

*Or the embodied greenhouse gases (GHGs) from products, or the "carbon content"

Why did you launch the label?

There is increasing demand from consumers and companies for action and information on carbon emissions. We want to show consumers that carbon emissions are generated to produce everything that they buy. The carbon label will eventually allow consumers to factor carbon into their purchasing decisions, providing a simple and effective way of promoting behaviour change to reduce carbon emissions amongst businesses and consumers.

* The Publicly Available Specification (PAS 2050)

How can I trust the information on this label?

The carbon reduction label will be based on a rigorous specification, consulted on by a wide range of stakeholders and developed by the Carbon Trust, Defra and BSI British Standards. The initial method used for the trial labels was developed by the Carbon Trust using accepted principles of lifecycle analysis and based on a series of pilot projects completed over the last two years.

In May 2007, the Carbon Trust and Defra announced that we would be working with BSI British Standards to co-sponsor the development of a Publicly Available Specification (this is the "standard") for the measurement of the embodied greenhouse gases (GHG) in products and services.

The aim of the work is to develop an agreed method for measuring embodied emissions, which can be applied across a wide range of product and service categories and their supply chains. This will create a single standard to ensure a consistent and comparable approach to supply chain measurement of embodied GHGs across markets.

To qualify for a label, products will have to go through this rigorous, agreed methodology and be independently verified. They will also have to sign up to a 'reduce or lose' clause whereby if they fail to reduce the carbon footprint of the labelled product over a two year period the label will be withdrawn by the Carbon Trust.

Why not just use an air-freight label, like M&S?

"Food miles" is an important issue but there are lots of other sources of carbon emissions across the supply chain that can be just as important. Raw material choices, packaging, manufacturing and processing routes and methods of distribution can all be significant sources of carbon emissions. We think that by measuring all these different steps, we can create a more representative picture of the carbon impact of a product. Importantly, the label is also a commitment to reduce a product's emissions.

Does the product label include offsetting?

The carbon reduction label includes the actual carbon footprint of the product from source to store and it does not include offsetting.

In the specific case of use of green energy, we will look at additional carbon reductions, i.e. would look at cases where ROCS and LECs have been retired. We will also ask companies to disclose their energy mix.

What does a business have to do to qualify for a label?

To qualify for a the label, companies will need to undertake a Carbon Footprint Assessment of their product supply chain complying with the standard once it is published, and working with the Carbon Trust during the pilot phase. Companies displaying the label will sign up to a 'reduce or lose' clause whereby if they fail to reduce the carbon footprint of the product over a two year period they will have the label withdrawn.

Isn't this just an easy PR route for businesses to look good?

No. For products to carry the label, companies will need to have a Carbon Footprint Assessment of their product supply chain following the agreed standard, and commit to reducing carbon footprint of the product over the next two years. Companies displaying the label will sign up to a 'reduce or lose' clause whereby if they fail to reduce the carbon footprint of the product over a two year period, they will have the label withdrawn by the Carbon Trust.