A standard system of labeling showing the carbon emitted during a product's lifecycle moved a step closer this month as the first products featuring the Carbon Trust's new carbon label made their debut on the shelves.

All 13 flavours of Walkers crisps are to carry the label, which shows the quantity of carbon emitted during the product's life and a downward arrow designating the company's commitment to reducing its carbon emissions. Meanwhile, point of sale material showing the carbon footprint of a range of Botanics shampoos will be displayed at over 250 Boots stores.

Euan Murray, carbon footprinting general manager at the Carbon Trust, said that the roll out represented a significant step forward in a pilot scheme that has already attracted interest from more than 150 further companies.

"Having the carbon reduction label in the market enables us to test consumer understanding and refine how this information is communicated," he said. "The carbon footprinting of products and its communication via the label offers companies the opportunity tackle the indirect carbon emissions from products and help consumers understand the climate impacts of the purchasing decisions they make."

The scheme has been subject to some scepticism from scientists who argue that developing a methodology for accurately calculating the embedded carbon found in a wide range of different products will prove extremely difficult.

However, Tamara Sharpe, Botanics Brand Manager at Boots, insisted the experimental labeling scheme had already had a positive impact in helping the company reduce the carbon footprint of its Botanics range by 20 percent since it started to apply the methodology. "We're highlighting this to customers in store and giving them advice to help them reduce their carbon footprint further," she said.

The Carbon Trust said the methodology represented a starting point and it was currently working with DEFRA and the BSI British Standards to develop it into a single standard for measuring embedded carbon. It added that a broad two stage consultation period will now form the next phase of the methodology development.