My prediction is that 2010 will be the Year of (eco/resource/carbon/social impact) Labeling. Already Sustainable Brands International (SBi) is dedicating a whole event to the discussion, in November this year. And I found this in the bill, as well.
SEC. 274. PRODUCT CARBON DISCLOSURE PROGRAM.
(a) EPA Study- The Administrator shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a national program for measuring, reporting, publicly disclosing, and labeling products or materials sold in the United States for their carbon content, and shall, not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, transmit a report to Congress which shall include the following:
(b) Development of National Carbon Disclosure Program- Upon conclusion of the study, and not more than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a national product carbon disclosure program, participation in which shall be voluntary, and which may involve a product carbon label with broad applicability to the wholesale and consumer markets to enable and encourage knowledge about carbon content by producers and consumers and to inform efforts to reduce energy consumption (carbon dioxide equivalent emissions) nationwide. In developing such a program, the Administrator shall–
That is Scope 3 disclosure – upstream and downstream – emissions from products if ever I saw it. And that sure is a lot of data to measure, collect and manage.
