The term ‘Carbon Footprint’ refers to the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated by an individual or organization. It is a comprehensive concept that encompasses direct and indirect emissions from manufacturing processes, heating, use of transportation, and the supply of electricity needed to provide goods or services, as well as other greenhouse gas categories such as methane and nitrous oxide. The carbon footprint was derived from the concept of the ‘Ecological Footprint,’ which was primarily used in environmental and ecological circles. Similar to how human impact on nature over a lifetime was converted into land area, the amount of greenhouse gases we emit is calculated and expressed as the weight of carbon dioxide. It is sometimes also expressed in terms of the number of trees we need to plant.
By displaying a carbon footprint, we can see how much greenhouse gas is emitted when we use a product or service. For this reason, countries such as the UK and France require carbon footprint labeling on some or all products. This is called the ‘Carbon Labelling’ system, which encourages eco-friendly consumption by helping consumers choose products with lower carbon emissions. There is also a 2022 study from Germany’s Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg showing that when carbon footprints were displayed on restaurant menus, customers were influenced to choose foods with lower carbon emissions.
South Korea has been implementing a carbon labeling system since 2009. The Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute under the Ministry of Environment has overseen certification, and in 2016, it was integrated into the Environmental Product Declaration system, which evaluates a broader range of environmental impacts beyond just the carbon footprint, including ozone layer impact and water footprint.