Blue Planet Prize Story

Prof. Lambin is a geographer and has studied the influence of land use on the environment for decades. He realized that while forest conservation is promoted in one country, deforestation may be worsening in other countries that export wood to that country. He, therefore, has promoted sustainable land use through the expansion of environmentally friendly approaches.
One such approach is the eco certification system. Consumers support sustainable forest management and agriculture through the purchase of products certified and labeled as eco-friendly products.
Products with eco labels are often seen in our daily life. Instructors can provide students chances to learn the basic concepts of global supply chains based on environmental consideration through eco labels that we are familiar with.

Find eco labels!

1. Learn the basics of eco labels.

(Examples)

• Environmental problems (deforestation, etc.)
• Product manufacturing, distribution, and consumption (notebooks, etc.) and the meaning of environmental consideration in each process
• Eco certification system structure and major eco labels

[Important points!]

When explaining this to students, use The Story of Prof. Eric Lambin "3. To Conserve Forests and Lands Around the World" and the "Story Guide" as references.

2. Find eco labels on products

(1) Determine which eco labels are to be found in advance
Ask students to find up to three labels.

(Examples)

• A few forest conservation eco labels
• One eco label for each certification, including forest conservation and fishery resources

(2) Find products with eco labels at home, school, and in stores, and write them down.

• Content to be recorded includes types of products, product names, manufacturers, and locations where they were found.
• If possible, attach the actual eco labels cut from products or photos of products with eco labels.

[Important points!]

Please make students aware that they should be careful not to interfere with stores and other people when looking for eco labels in stores.

(Examples)

Eco Label	FSC Certification	Label/ Photo
Product Type	Facial tissue
Product Name	Paper
Name of Manufacturer	Company A
Location where the label was found	Home
Eco Label	Rainforest Alliance Certificaton	Label/ Photo
Product Type	Coffee beans
Product Name	Coffee
Name of Manufacturer	Company B
Location where the label was found	Store

3. Choose one product with an eco label from among those students have collected and ask them to investigate what type of environmental considerations are actually provided.

(Examples)

Eco Label	FSC Certification	Label/ Photo
Product Type	Facial tissue
Product Name	Paper
Name of Manufacturer	Company A
Location where the label was found	Home
Environmental Considerations
The company has forests both at home and abroad, and it cultivates trees that can be used as raw material for manufacturing paper. Most of the forests are FSC certified. Only trees that have grown to a sufficient age are cut down, and the trees that were cut down are replaced for the future. Timber from forest thinning is used effectively. The company is eager to support the conservation of eco-systems of forests that are managed according to environmental conservation concepts.

4. Students present what they investigated and give their opinions.