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The move builds on 1.5C-aligned emissions targets
The firm said that the move, announced on Wednesday (17 June), will help customers to make informed buying choices and learn more about the environmental impact of their products.
In order to develop the labels, Logitech has collaborated with Natural Capital Partners, iPoint Group and DEKRA to develop a robust life cycle analysis process which takes into account the entirety of life-cycle emissions, from raw materials to consumer use and end-of-life. Packaging is also included.
The results of the life cycle analyses will be communicated to consumers via on-pack labelling and via information on the Logitech website. These communications will be made available for gaming products in the second half od 2020, with an international portfolio-wide to follow in the future.
Given that carbon labelling is in its relative infancy and not yet mandated by any national government, Logitech will share its life cycle analysis methodology and design learnings with other businesses across the electronics sector and beyond.
“We recognize the scale of the environmental challenges facing our planet today,” Logitech’s chief executive Bracken Darrell said. “We are doubling down on our efforts to reduce our environmental impact, yet we can’t do it alone… It will take an industry-wide effort to truly make a difference.”
Logitech is notably developing 1.5C-aligned science-based climate targets and is a member of The Climate Group’s RE100 initiative, striving to source 100% renewable electricity by 2030, up from 75% in 2019. The firm last year announced that its portfolio of gaming products had been certified as carbon-neutral by Natural Capital Partners, in line with the organisation’s Carbon Neutral Protocol, due to operational emissions reductions and investments in offsetting.
Sticker situation
The Carbon Trust recently conducted a global survey of more than 10,000 shoppers, finding that more than two-thirds would like to see carbon labelling introduced on either a voluntary or mandatory basis.
The same survey found that half of British shoppers now consider the carbon impact of their products before purchasing, but find it challenging to access quantitative, comparable data on this topic.
Taking heed of this trend, Quorn Foods began adding carbon labelling to some of its most popular lines in January. Then, Allbirds announced an ambition of becoming the first fashion brand to label every product they make with a carbon footprint. Most recently, Unilever unveiled a new set of sustainability commitments through to 2039, including plans to communicate the carbon footprint and other environmental impacts of products to customers.
Additionally, late last year, Nestle and Premier Foods both revealed that they are considering adding carbon labelling to their products. The companies have both set internal carbon reduction aims – with Premier Foods targeting a 55% absolute footprint reduction by 2025 against a 2018 baseline, and Nestle aiming for net-zero on a global basis by 2050 – and claim labelling could help engage customers with their efforts.
Little seems to be moving on mandatory labelling legislation, however – except in Denmark, where all food sold through supermarkets will need to have on-pack carbon labelling in the coming years.
Sarah George
The Danish reference is interesting, but I cannot find any references to it on "official" websites. It appears to have been a proposal put forward in November 2018, but as yet seems to be unconfirmed. Can edie (or anyone else) shed some light on this?
It’s good to see Quorn re-starting this. They took part in an earlier CT labelling scheme, along with brands such as Innocent, but that seems to have fizzled out a couple of years ago.