PAS 2050:2008 Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services, published by the British Standards Institution, is the world’s first accounting standard for product carbon footprint. Jointly initiated by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Carbon Trust, it is mainly used to calculate and assess greenhouse gas emissions generated by products and services throughout their life cycles.

GHG Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard is a consumer-oriented standard jointly developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. It is a globally recognized standard for calculating product carbon footprints.

ISO 14067:2018 Greenhouse gases — Carbon footprint of products — Requirements and guidelines for quantification defines product carbon footprint as the sum of greenhouse gas emissions and removals within a product system assessed by the life cycle approach, with results expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent.

China’s carbon label assessment standards mainly include General Rules for Carbon Footprint Assessment of Electrical and Electronic Products (T/DZJN 001-2018), a series of standards for carbon footprint assessment of electrical and electronic products, Carbon Label Mark (T/DZJN004—2019), Implementation Rules for Voluntary Assessment of Industry-wide Uniform Product Carbon Labels, General Rules for Enterprise Carbon Label Assessment (T/DZJN 75—2022), etc.

General Rules for Enterprise Carbon Label Assessment (T/DZJN 75—2022) was issued on January 20, 2022. Different from product carbon labels, this standard focuses on enterprises as a whole. Enterprise carbon labels are awarded through comprehensive assessment of corporate low-carbon performance and potential, so as to drive enterprises to carry out low-carbon development and build low-carbon corporate images from a macro perspective. It is China’s first assessment standard for enterprise carbon labels.

Attaching carbon labels to products demonstrates enterprises’ confidence in facing up to product carbon footprints and determination to cut carbon emissions, and helps enterprises build a positive brand image.

Focusing on pollution and carbon reduction from the source, carbon labels serve as an effective tool to assist enterprises in carbon emission reduction and the construction of green industrial supply chains.

It acts as an important instrument for enterprises to tackle new barriers in import and export trade, helping them strengthen social competitiveness and participation in global carbon trading.

It helps enhance enterprises’ international reputation, build mutual trust with clients, investors and consumers, and lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development of enterprises.