A new pilot project that will see the carbon footprint label introduced on products in France begins next month.

Carbon reduction company Sustain is warning that UK suppliers to organisations taking part in the project, which include food and drink companies, need to prepare now as they too could be asked to declare their carbon emissions.

All products in every sector will be affected including food.

There are 168 global companies taking part in the pilot, which runs for 12 months. It will then be reviewed by the French Government and, if successful, all products could bear the carbon footprint as a compulsory measure from as early as 2012.

Participating companies include Heineken, H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB, Levi Strauss, L'Oréal, Orange, Procter & Gamble and Unilever - some of which have UK suppliers.

More information on the French pilot can be found at http://www.sustain.co.uk/resources/briefing-documents-and-reports/french-environmental-labelling-briefing-document.aspx