Footprints everywhere

Britain is to launch a voluntary scheme whereby consumer products will be labelled as to their carbon footprint. The joint imitative between the government's initiative has been announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Carbon Trust (also government funded), and British Standards (BSI). The labels will rate the products' contribution to greenhouse gas emissions from production, transport and consumption. Even though this is a voluntary enterprise I anticipate that should significant consumer pressure be brought to bear, and I believe it will, that the participation in the scheme will soon become de rigeur.

Perhaps my countrymen can push for a similar proposal on their side of the Atlantic.