In a time when climates the world over are in a state of chaos due to climate change, protecting the environment is paramount. Big industry has a lot to answer for in this regard, but collectively, there is a lot we as individuals can do to, shall we say, ‘persuade’ them to ‘do the right thing’ through the power of consumer spending. With a little extra effort and the right information, we can adjust our choices slightly when shopping to support those eco-friendly companies that have a conscience.
Manufacturing standards symbols are everywhere, and shopping consciously takes no more than a few extra seconds in the supermarket aisles checking labels for standard compliant symbols before dropping that product into your shopping basket.
The following are some of the most common standards you see in Japan that nearly all relevant products will display, and further down we will get into some of the more ‘cause’-centric standards that will ‘give you the feels’ when it comes to knowing that you are doing your bit in Japan to support those companies that have humanity at heart.
FSC – Forest Stewardship Council (Global / NGO)
As the name suggests, forests are the focus.
Companies that subscribe to this standard source the paper they use for packaging, or the products themselves, from manufacturers that comply with the standards set out by the FSC. This means that the wood used is from environmentally sustainable and renewable forests.
There are three variations on the logo.
100% – product is FSC certified.
MIX – product is also made with non-FSC certified ‘controlled wood’ which must adhere to strict FSC standards.
RECYCLED – product comes from reclaimed or re-used material.
PEFC – Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (Global / NGO / NPO)
A very similar certification scheme to the FSC.
RSPO – Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (Global)
The CSPO (Certified Sustainable Palm Oil) standard was set forth by the RSPO (Rountable on Sustainable Palm Oil) and strives to hold palm oil producers to standards that will save the habitats of countless species of animals. Palm oil is increasingly being favoured around the world over vegetable oils for everything from cosmetics, to all kinds of foods, and even bio-fuels, because of its cheaper cost of production, and its greater yield and versatility.
Without getting too much into the politics, there is still a lot of opposition to the palm oil industry, and currently, only around 20% of the world’s palm oil is CSPO, raising many questions about its effectiveness as a solution. It has a long way to go until real changes will be seen on a global scale, but it seems that at its heart, it is working toward a better future for the environment.
Green Power (Japan)
Products that display this symbol are certified as being manufactured using solar, wind, water, or biomass energy, or a mixture of these. Green Power registered companies and organisations have been certified by the Japan Natural Energy Company which provides them power generated via the sources listed above.
This is just a slim selection of the common standards and their symbols that you’re likely to see in Japan, and hopefully it will help you to make more informed choices while shopping. Know of any others we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.
Happy eco-shopping!
Photo by Mark Merner on Unsplash.
