Commencement of the Carbon Footprint Pilot Program - METI to accept applications for registration of draft PCR development plans -

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is launching the Carbon Footprint Pilot Program in FY 2009, which is a pilot in preparation for establishing the carbon footprint system.

As the first step, METI will accept applications for the registration of draft PCR development plans under the Carbon Footprint Calculation and Labeling Pilot Program from June 1, 2009. Draft PCR development plans refer to plans for formulating the Product Category Rules (PCRs), which define how to calculate and display CO2 emissions for each type of product.

METI asks enterprises to cooperate on this pilot program in order to “visualize” the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, with the creation of a low-carbon society in view.

1. Carbon Footprint Calculation and Labeling Pilot Program

METI is launching the Carbon Footprint Pilot Program, a pilot in preparation for establishing the carbon footprint system (*1), in FY 2009 in cooperation with related ministries. Conducted as part of this is the Carbon Footprint Calculation and Labeling Pilot Program (hereinafter "the Pilot Program").

In the Pilot Program, pertinent enterprises will develop drafts of PCRs (*2) for individual product types, which will serve as the standard for calculating and displaying carbon footprint, and submit them to a third-party committee for review and certification. Enterprises that intend to display carbon footprint on their products must calculate the carbon footprint pursuant to the certified PCRs and receive third-party validation of the calculation results before they can use the official mark for labeling.

2. Acceptance of applications for registration of draft PCR development plans

Enterprises that wish to develop draft PCRs and have them certified under the Pilot Program need to formulate and register their draft PCR development plans in advance (*3). Starting on June 1, 2009, METI will accept applications for this registration.

To encourage widespread participation in the Pilot Program, METI also plans to conduct a program to support the formulation of draft PCRs. A request for participation will be issued soon (*4).

[For reference] Publication of technical specifications (TS) for carbon footprint calculation

METI already announced the "Guidelines on the Carbon Footprint System" and the "Standards for Establishing Product Category Rules (PCRs)" as the basic rules for the carbon footprint system in March 2009. On April 20, 2009, technical specifications (TS) (*5) developed based on the Guidelines on the Carbon Footprint System were published as TS Q 0010 "General principles for the assessment and labeling of Carbon Footprint of Products".

TS Q 0010 is expected to be used as the basic guideline for the establishment of domestic rules through the Pilot Program and other initiatives and for Japan’s international standardization activities at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The TS will be subject to review as needed, in consideration of developments in Japan and abroad.

(*1) Carbon footprint system
The carbon footprint system is designed to calculate greenhouse gas emissions in terms of the amount of CO2 throughout a product’s or a service’s life cycle, from raw material procurement to disposal and recycling, and display the amount of emissions clearly with a simple mark.
In line with the Cabinet decision in July 2008 ("Action Plan for Achieving a Low-carbon Society"), Japan has been committed to developing a domestic carbon footprint system and establishing international standards for the carbon footprint system through the concerted effort of related ministries.

(*2) Product Category Rules (PCRs)
Criteria for carbon footprint calculation applicable to a single product category. They consist of the definition of the products/services falling within the category, the definition of their life cycle stages, methods of calculation and labeling, and so forth.

(*3) Draft PCR development plans
Enterprises planning to develop draft PCRs should register their plans with the Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry, the secretariat of the program. Enterprises must register their draft PCR development plans before they can formulate draft PCRs and have them certified.

(*4) To participate in this support program, enterprises must first register their draft PCR development plans under the Pilot Program.

(*5) Technical specifications (TS)
TS is a specification document that is published when the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC) recognizes a specification as having the potential for becoming a Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS).

Release Date

May 29, 2009

Division in Charge

Conformity Assessment Division, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau
Environmental Industries Office, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau
Distribution and Logistics Policy Division, Commerce and Distribution Policy Group

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