Currently there are some countries that have established a product carbon footprint labeling system. Based on the product’s carbon emission during its life cycle, products are permitted to use carbon footprint label once they have their GHG emission quantified and low-carbon label when the company achieves the reduction target they declared. The carbon labelling system is able to guide and encourage enterprises to develop environmental friendly technologies during manufacture process, and switch to a low-carbon production mode, in order to achieve the global GHG reduction goal. In some European countries, products without carbon label are not permitted to enter the market, which means that in the future, companies who do not certify their products may face many difficulties when competing with others in the international market.

Recently, more and more countries have jointed the carbon labelling program. Britain is the first country that launched produc carbon labeling system in world. The Carbon Trust Company introduced carbon reduction labeling system in 2006, and started a polit program for several products in March 2007 including foreign crisps, milkshakes, shampoo and other consumer products. Carbon reduction label informs consumers the carbon footprint of products and services, so that the consumers can make a choice that is more environmental friendly. In February,Carbon Trust partnered with TESCO,CocoCola, Boots and other 20 companys to further promote the carbon footprint program. Now more than 5000 products from 90 brands have registered for the carbon footprint. 

Japan started a pilot project for carbon footprint labelling scheme in April, 2009. The products featuring carbon footprint label are available since February 2010. Other countries, including Germany, United States, Korea, Thailand and Chinese Taiwan have launched their carbon labelling program in 2008. United States first launched their carbon labelling system in California in 2009, while Taiwan started the program in April, 2010. In October 2015, Hong Kong announced their plan of launching the carbon labelling program, marking the beginning of the implementation of the product carbon labeling system in Hong Kong, which will promote and enhance the competitiveness of the Hong Kong products in the global market.

Currently, in most countries, the companies can certify their products and disclose carbon footprint information voluntarily, except France, who approved an act in 2011 to establish a mandatory labeling mechanism and specify the information that company must disclose.

The product carbon footprint assessment is mainly based on life-cycle assessment methodologies, such as PAS 2050. A wide range of products have been covered, including food, electronics, household items and so on. The carbon labelling programs are mainly promoted by governments, third-party institutions and private sectors.

China’s carbon labelling program started later than other countries, and have not developed a uniform labelling system yet. On the other hand, China has launched China Environmental Label Low Carbon Products Certification and Low-carbon Product Certification, with aim to promote a customer oriented low-carbon consumption mode through the production chain. To some extend, China is establishing its own carbon labelling system that can be recognized globally to accelerate the move towards a low-carbon society. However, unlike the international carbon labelling system, China focuses more on the GHG emission during production stage, instead of the entire life cycle, and certifies products according to a specified emission limit.

Turning the government’s willingness to real action from companies requires the efforts from the market. Some companies who showed strong sense of social responsibility have already started the transaction. In July 2012 Guangzhou Blue Moon Industrial Co., Ltd., Garbo Li Chemical Group Co., Ltd., Guangdong Maydos building materials Co., Ltd. and other enterprises became the first companies that passed the accreditation of China Quality Certification Center Carbon Footprint Certification(CQC). In November 2012, Formica Group's products, including senior decorative Naihuoban (HPL), continuous decorative Naihuoban (CPL), anti fold special board and related products passed the carbon footprint assessment performed by UK Carbon Trust, and obtained the Carbon Trust carbon label. In June 2013, Hua Fu obtained the carbon footprint label issued by the British accreditation agencies Inertek, becoming the first company and only company who earned this certification in China’s color spinning industry, which set a benchmark for efficient and sustainable development. In July 2013, the largest LED flat lamp manufacturer in China, Shenzhen Semiconductor Green Lighting Co., Ltd., conducted a carbon footprint quantification and assessment through the third-party certification body Intertek group (Intertek) for its LED flat lamp product, becoming the first lighting enterprises in the world that gained the Carbon Counted Label.