Mandatory Purchase of 'Green Products' by Public Institutions Includes 'Low Carbon Certified Products'... 138 Certifications

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The Ministry of Environment announced on the 29th the promulgation of a partial amendment to the "Act on the Promotion of Green Product Purchasing (Green Product Purchasing Act)," which adds low-carbon certified products to green products. Since public institutions are required to purchase green products, the market activation of low-carbon certified products is expected.

Currently, green products defined by law are products that minimize the input of energy and resources and the generation of greenhouse gases and pollutants, consisting of "environmental label certified products" and "excellent recycled certified products." According to the amended law, "low-carbon certified products" will also be included as green products. Low-carbon certified products refer to products that emit less greenhouse gases than before through raw material or fuel substitution, process or efficiency improvements, based on environmental performance label certified products.

The amended law will take effect six months after the promulgation date, on July 30. The Ministry of Environment plans to revise related administrative rules and, if necessary, hold explanatory sessions to activate the low-carbon product system.

The amended law added the contribution to greenhouse gas reduction by promoting the purchase of green products to the purpose of the current law. With the inclusion of low-carbon certified products in the scope of green products, it is expected to contribute to achieving the "30% reduction target compared to the national greenhouse gas emission forecast for 2030."

Low-carbon certified products are those that have been certified by achieving greenhouse gas (such as carbon dioxide) reductions exceeding the "national greenhouse gas reduction target" through verification of reduction measures such as process improvements. Environmental performance information (7 items) is displayed on the products, and since 2016, the existing carbon footprint certification has been integrated and operated.

As of December last year, 138 products (including services) from 43 companies have been certified as low-carbon through the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute under the Ministry of Environment. In particular, since the Green Product Purchasing Act has stipulated that public institutions must mandatorily purchase green products when purchasing products since July 2005, market activation of low-carbon certified products is also expected.

As of 2018, the annual purchase amount of green products was 3.31 trillion won, accounting for 50.3% of the total public institution purchase amount. Environmental label certified products accounted for 49.4%, and excellent recycled certified products 0.9%. The Ministry of Environment expects that consumption of low-carbon products (services) in various fields such as food, railroads, aviation, and ecotourism will be promoted through this amended law.

Kim Dong-gu, Director of Environmental Economy Policy at the Ministry of Environment, said, "Through this amended law, the production and consumption of low-carbon products will be activated, contributing to greenhouse gas reduction and the spread of a low-carbon lifestyle culture."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.