THE PROGRAMME
In 2008, Taiwan’s Executive Yuan announced the Framework of Taiwan’s Sustainable Energy Policy, which would implement nationwide energy-saving and carbon-reduction policies with the goal of reducing daily per capita carbon emissions by one kilo. To this end, the Environmental Protection Administration developed a system to label domestic product with carbon footprint information. Taiwan is now the 11th country in the world to develop a carbon-footprint label for products.
Product Carbon Footprint Labeling Scheme in Taiwan was born in 2009 with the Carbon Labeling Graphic Design Contest, winning label logo selected from over 1,200 entries. In 2010 the “Guidelines on Calculating Carbon Footprint For Products and Services” are announced and the programme started accepting the application for Carbon Footprint Labeling. In June 2014, Taiwan EPA launched Product Carbon Footprint Reducing Labeling program, encouraging companies voluntary reductions of product carbon footprint.
The label is designed as a footprint composed of a green heart, a leaf, the chemical symbol CO2, and a number in the heart conveying the product’s carbon footprint. The label’s general purpose is to encourage the production and consumption of products with low carbon emissions in order to move towards a low-carbon, environmentally friendly society. The number displayed in the label shows the quantity and unit of the product’s carbon footprint. Represent product’s lifecycle energy and resource consumption in CO2 equivalent
122 application firms are granted the certificates and the rights to use carbon footprint labels on their products. Until March 7, 2016, there are 394 products awarded Taiwan Carbon footprint Label by Taiwan EPA.
The carbon reduction labeling system will be based on current carbon footprint labeling. Manufacturers will use the carbon footprint numerical value of the product as a baseline and make a specific proposal to reduce carbon emissions using specific methods. Manufacturers who are found to have kept their promise to reduce carbon emissions will gain the right to use carbon reduction labeling.
THE ADVANTAGES OF CARBON FOOTPRINT IN TAIWAN
Carbon reduction labeling will be combined with an environmental point-collection system, and manufacturers will also be given priority in government procurement contracts. These incentives should enable us to achieve our greenhouse gas reduction and green supply chain goals.
When consumers purchase products with carbon reduction labeling, they are not only making a contribution to the fight against climate change, but also helping to make green consumption a reality for everyone.