ESG GBA Sustainable Growth Promotion Association-Article details-Product carbon footprint label is here! How can enterprises seize the "low-carbon ID card"?

Product carbon footprint label is here! How can enterprises seize the "low-carbon ID card"?

2025-03-27 00:38

Against the background of accelerating the global goal of carbon neutrality, China's carbon management system has added another important measure.

Recently, the National Certification and Accreditation Administration issued the "General Implementation Rules for Product Carbon Footprint Label Certification (Trial)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Rules") and the China Product Carbon Footprint Label, which provides a unified and authoritative standard system for the quantification, verification and labeling of corporate product carbon footprints, marking that my country's product carbon footprint management has entered a new stage of standardization and normalization, and provides important support for the construction of green consumption and low-carbon supply chains.

Build a full life cycle carbon footprint management system

The "Rules" are based on the principles of "scientific, transparent and traceable", and focus on the quantification and certification of the carbon footprint of the product throughout its life cycle. A complete implementation framework is proposed, covering the core contents such as the qualifications of certification bodies, certification procedures, and supervision mechanisms.

1. Clarify the scope and mode of certification

The "Rules" apply to products in the "Product Carbon Footprint Label Certification Catalog" uniformly issued by the National Certification and Accreditation Administration, and other products can refer to it for implementation. The certification model adopts "initial inspection + product carbon footprint verification + post-certification supervision" to ensure closed-loop management of the entire process from application to supervision.

Key requirements:

- The same product needs to be divided into certification units according to the production site to ensure data accuracy;

- The production enterprise should establish a management system that meets the requirements of the "Product Carbon Footprint Label Certification Enterprise Assurance Capability" and has been in operation for three months, and has the relevant data and information required for product carbon footprint label certification in a representative time period before applying for certification.

2. Strictly control the qualifications of certification agencies and personnel

Certification agencies must meet 9 capacity requirements, including:

- Have more than 10 full-time certification personnel, and must have more than two years of professional experience in carbon footprint;

- Establish a quality traceability mechanism and risk response measures to ensure the fairness of certification;

- Pass the qualification approval of the National Certification and Accreditation Administration and obtain pilot qualifications.

Certification personnel must have registration qualifications, be responsible for the authenticity of the results, and eliminate conflicts of interest.

3. Data quality and verification are key

The Rules require companies to provide full life cycle data, including carbon emission information from raw material acquisition, production, transportation, use and recycling.

Highlights:

- Data hierarchical management: real-life data is preferred, and secondary data must be verified by a third party;

- Punitive mechanism: results are punished for companies that use non-real-life data;

- Cross-verification: ensure that the quantitative results are scientific and accurate through multi-data source comparison.

4. Dynamic supervision and certificate management

The certificate is valid for 2 years, during which it must be subject to annual supervision, focusing on the implementation of the company's carbon reduction plan and data consistency. If the company's carbon footprint increases beyond the threshold (10% outside the plan, 5% within the plan and for 3 months), the certificate will be invalid.

Strictly control the use of the logo: The logo is only for certified products, with a green "footprint" graphic as the main body, and the carbon footprint value (kgCO₂e) and a traceable QR code are marked. Violators will have their certificates suspended or revoked.

By regulating product carbon footprint management, the Rules indirectly enhance the ability of enterprises to cope with international carbon barriers (such as EU CBAM) and lay the foundation for participating in global low-carbon competition.

1. Promote green upgrades of enterprises: through the disclosure of full life cycle data, promote enterprises to optimize production processes and supply chain management;

2. Guide green consumption: Carbon footprint labels provide consumers with a transparent basis for choice and promote the market competitiveness of low-carbon products;

3. Standardize industry standards: Unify certification rules to avoid "greenwashing" chaos and enhance international carbon discourse power.

Enterprise Action Guide

1. Layout data system in advance: Establish a carbon data collection system covering procurement, production, and logistics;

2. Optimize carbon reduction plans: Combined with the requirements of the Rules, formulate quantifiable and traceable emission reduction plans;

3. Pay attention to catalog dynamics: Keep up with the certification catalog released by the National Certification and Accreditation Administration to seize the industry opportunity.

With the trial implementation of the Rules, it is expected that more industries will be included in the certification catalog, and carbon footprint management will change from "optional" to "mandatory". For enterprises, actively embracing carbon transparency will become the core bargaining chip for green competitiveness; for society, this logo will accelerate the awakening of the public's low-carbon awareness and inject lasting impetus into the implementation of the "dual carbon" goal.