CARBON FOOTPRINT ACTIONS (2010)

What is Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)？

Product carbon footprint (PCF) represents the total amount of carbon dioxide generated in the life cycle of a product.

Carbon Footprint Label

This label is used to indicate the carbon footprint of the product in question.*
The label depicts a weighing scale. The weight displayed on the scale plate indicates the product’s carbon footprint (the amount of carbon dioxide generated in the product’s life cycle). Carbon footprint is a measure of environmental impact.

• *
  This label design is used in government pilot program for PCF calculation (the program, whose title translates as “carbon-footprint-system pilot program,” is run by METI in collaboration with other government entities).

PCF: CO₂ Generated in a Product’s Life Cycle

Products we use every day consume plenty of energy across their life cycle, which includes procuring raw materials, producing the product, distributing it, disposing of it, and recycling it. Most of this energy is generated from fossil fuels such as oil. How much carbon dioxide do all these fossil fuels generate？ The carbon footprint tells you how much carbon dioxide was generated in the product’s life cycle.

Considering Environmental Impacts across the Product’s Life Cycle

We have a longstanding commitment to understanding the environmental impacts across the life cycles of our products. For many years, we have used our own scheme for indicating such impacts. That is, we have labeled products with the “eco-batsu” label. The label indicates products with inadequate environmental consideration at four stages of the life cycle: production, transportation, use, and disposal. Indicating this information encourages efforts to reduce the environmental impact and assess CO₂ emissions at each of these stages.

Knowing the Carbon Footprint is a First Step to Carbon Reduction

While PCF represents the amount of carbon dioxide generated in the life cycle of a particular product, we can also measure the carbon footprint at a particular stage of the life cycle. By understanding which life cycle stages have higher carbon footprints than others, we can act more effectively to reduce the overall environmental impact. When this information is displayed on products, customers can make sustainable choices when purchasing products and have a better idea about how to use these products.

Calculating PCF

An example of the life cycle of a KOKUYO product

The example shown below illustrates the amounts of carbon dioxide generated at different stages of the product life cycle.

• *
  The product in this example is a tube file (Ecotwin-R: フ－RT650B)

• *
  In the case of this product, the subtotals and total have been rounded to three significant digits (which may include a decimal).

This is the life cycle for one of our tube files. Across this life cycle, a total of 1,970 grams of carbon dioxide is generated.

The total decreases by around 880 grams if the user reuses the fasteners and dividing cards and uses a replacement cover (in the case of フ-RT650B).

Results of PCF Calculations

Shown below are the results of our PCF calculations.

Product series: Tube file Ecotwin-R

Product in question		Carbon footprint by stage
No.	Product code	Procurement of raw materials	Production	Distribution, retail	Use, maintenance	Disposal, recycling	Total
	Description
CV-AR-013	ﾌ-RT630B	1,040g	160g	486g	0g	122g	1,810g
	A4 / 30mm, blue
CV-AR-014	ﾌ-RT630C	1,040g	160g	486g	0g	122g	1,810g
	A4 / 30mm, silver
CV-AR-015	ﾌ-RT640B	1,080g	160g	505g	0g	126g	1,870g
	A4 / 40mm, blue
CV-AR-016	ﾌ-RT640C	1,080g	160g	505g	0g	126g	1,870g
	A4 / 40mm, silver
CV-AR-017	ﾌ-RT650B	1,140g	162g	530g	0g	141g	1,970g
	A4 / 50mm, blue
CV-AR-018	ﾌ-RT650C	1,140g	162g	530g	0g	141g	1,970g
	A4 / 50mm, silver
CV-AR-019	ﾌ-RT660B	1,190g	163g	551g	0g	145g	2,050g
	A4 / 60mm, blue
CV-AR-020	ﾌ-RT660C	1,190g	163g	551g	0g	145g	2,050g
	A4 / 60mm, silver
CV-AR-021	ﾌ-RT670B	1,250g	165g	575g	0g	165g	2,160g
	A4 / 70mm, blue
CV-AR-022	ﾌ-RT670C	1,250g	165g	575g	0g	165g	2,160g
	A4 / 70mm, silver
CV-AR-023	ﾌ-RT680B	1,320g	166g	600g	0g	168g	2,250g
	A4 / 80mm, blue
CV-AR-024	ﾌ-RT680C	1,320g	166g	600g	0g	168g	2,250g
	A4 / 80mm, silver

Product series: Replacement cover for tube file Ecotwin-R

Product in question		Carbon footprint by stage
No.	Product code	Procurement of raw materials	Production	Distribution, retail	Use, maintenance	Disposal, recycling	Total
	Description
CV-AR-001	ﾌ-RH630B	447g	123g	338g	0g	113g	1,020g
	Replacement paper (for ﾌ-RT630B)
CV-AR-002	ﾌ-RH630C	447g	123g	338g	0g	113g	1,020g
	Replacement paper (for ﾌ-RT630C)
CV-AR-003	ﾌ-RH640B	443g	122g	346g	0g	116g	1,030g
	Replacement paper (for ﾌ-RT640B)
CV-AR-004	ﾌ-RH640C	443g	122g	346g	0g	116g	1,030g
	Replacement paper (for ﾌ-RT640C)
CV-AR-005	ﾌ-RH650B	477g	125g	361g	0g	131g	1,090g
	Replacement paper (for ﾌ-RT650B)
CV-AR-006	ﾌ-RH650C	477g	125g	361g	0g	131g	1,090g
	Replacement paper (for ﾌ-RT650C)
CV-AR-007	ﾌ-RH660B	466g	124g	369g	0g	134g	1,090g
	Replacement paper (for ﾌ-RT660B)
CV-AR-008	ﾌ-RH660C	466g	124g	369g	0g	134g	1,090g
	Replacement paper (for ﾌ-RT660C)
CV-AR-009	ﾌ-RH670B	505g	126g	382g	0g	153g	1,170g
	Replacement paper (for ﾌ-RT670B)
CV-AR-010	ﾌ-RH670C	505g	126g	382g	0g	153g	1,170g
	Replacement paper (for ﾌ-RT670C)
CV-AR-011	ﾌ-RH680B	552g	127g	397g	0g	157g	1,230g
	Replacement paper (for ﾌ-RT680B)
CV-AR-012	ﾌ-RH680C	552g	127g	397g	0g	157g	1,230g
	Replacement paper (for ﾌ-RT680C)

Product series: Ecotwin-R made with timber harvested in forest-thinning operations

Product in question		Carbon footprint by stage
No.	Product code	Procurement of raw materials	Production	Distribution, retail	Use, maintenance	Disposal, recycling	Total
	Description
CV-AR-025	ﾌ-RTK6100B	1,440g	167g	643g	0g	188g	2,440g
	A4 / 100mm, blue
CV-AR-026	ﾌ-RTK630B	1,100g	157g	482g	0g	122g	1,860g
	A4 / 30mm, blue
CV-AR-027	ﾌ-RTK650B	1,200g	160g	527g	0g	141g	2,030g
	A4 / 50mm, blue
CV-AR-028	ﾌ-RTK660B	1,250g	161g	549g	0g	145g	2,110g
	A4 / 60mm, blue
CV-AR-029	ﾌ-RTK680B	1,350g	164g	594g	0g	111g	2,220g
	A4 / 80mm, blue

• *
  In the above calculations, we used the following parameters.

• Product category rule (PCR) title: File binder
• PCR code: PA-AR-01
• In January 2022, we launched KOKUYO-Style Hybrid Work as a post-pandemic workstyle. We updated our guidelines accordingly.
• Common database for intensity: The provisional database provided in the government pilot program mentioned earlier (“carbon-footprint-system pilot program”).

Low partition flexcell

Product in question		Carbon footprint by stage
No.	Product code	Procurement of raw materials	Production	Distribution, retail	Use, maintenance	Disposal, recycling	Total
	Description
CV-AK-001	PP-FX0911Ｐ81HYNB3	31kg	7kg	3kg	0kg	5kg	46kg
	W900×H1135mm
CV-AK-001	PP-FX0911Ｐ81HYN52	31kg	7kg	3kg	0kg	5kg	46kg
	W900×H1135mm
CV-AK-001	PP-FX0911Ｐ81HYN22	31kg	7kg	3kg	0kg	5kg	46kg
	W900×H1135mm
CV-AK-001	PP-FX0911Ｐ81HYNA2	31kg	7kg	3kg	0kg	5kg	46kg
	W900×H1135mm
CV-AK-001	PP-FX0911Ｐ81HYNB6	31kg	7kg	3kg	0kg	5kg	46kg
	W900×H1135mm
CV-AK-001	PP-FX0911Ｐ81HYN54	31kg	7kg	3kg	0kg	5kg	46kg
	W900×H1135mm
CV-AK-001	PP-FX0911Ｐ81HYN24	31kg	7kg	3kg	0kg	5kg	46kg
	W900×H1135mm
CV-AK-001	PP-FX0911Ｐ81HYNA5	31kg	7kg	3kg	0kg	5kg	46kg
	W900×H1135mm
CV-AK-002	PPS-FXP11Ｐ81	21kg	1kg	≤1kg	0kg	1kg	23kg
	Corner post（H1135mm）

Storage cabinet Edia

Product in question		Carbon footprint by stage
No.	Product code	Materials of raw materials	production	Distribution, retail	Use, maintenance	Disposal, recycling	Total
	Description
CV-AK-003	BWU-K59SAW、BWUB-S9SAW	89kg	27kg	7kg	0kg	1kg	124kg
	Open storage unit （W900×H1110×D450mm）
CV-AK-003	BWU-K59SAW、BWUB-S9F4	89kg	27kg	7kg	0kg	1kg	124kg
	Open storage unit （W900×H1110×D450mm）
CV-AK-003	BWU-K59F1、BWUB-S9SAW	89kg	27kg	7kg	0kg	1kg	124kg
	Open storage unit （W900×H1110×D450mm）
CV-AK-003	BWU-K59F1、BWUB-S9F4	89kg	27kg	7kg	0kg	1kg	124kg
	Open storage unit （W900×H1110×D450mm）

• *
  In the above calculations, we used the following parameters.

• PCR title: Office furniture
• PCR code: PA-AK-01
• Common database for intensity: The provisional database provided in the government pilot program mentioned earlier (“carbon-footprint-system pilot program”).

The PCF amounts presented above have been verified under the government pilot program mentioned earlier (“carbon-footprint-system pilot program”).

• *
  In the case of file folder products, the subtotals and total have been rounded to three significant digits (which may include a decimal). In the case of office furniture, they have been rounded to the nearest whole number. The breakdowns may differ from the data shown on the carbon footprint website.
• *
  The calculations were made during the pilot stage of the government scheme in March 2010. The results are subject to change in the case the scheme is reformed. They may not be comparable to the equivalent calculations made by other companies.
• *
  We have no plans at present to display the carbon footprint on the product itself.