Information processing system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention provides an information processing system. This information processing system has at least one control unit. The control unit receives a carbon credit offset certificate. The carbon credit offset certificate is issued by a carbon credit issuing company. The control unit issues a first certificate related to a carbon neutral initiative on the basis of the carbon credit offset certificate. The first certificate is a customer certificate for a purchased product for which a cost related to a carbon neutral initiative was donated. A customer donation payment is carried out by a product seller.

Description

Information processing system, information processing method and program

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that can perform carbon offsetting in accordance with the content of a transaction.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-150704

[0004] There is a demand to issue certificates to users who contribute to carbon neutral efforts, but there is a problem that it takes a certain amount of time and effort for carbon credit issuers to issue carbon credit offset certificates.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing system. The information processing system has at least one or more control units. The control unit receives a carbon credit offset certificate. The carbon credit offset certificate is a carbon credit offset certificate issued by a carbon credit issuing company. The control unit issues a first certificate related to carbon neutral efforts based on the carbon credit offset certificate. The first certificate is a certificate from a customer of the product who has purchased the product and donated the costs related to the carbon neutral efforts. The customer's donation is deposited by the seller of the product.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the system configuration of an information processing system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a server device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a user terminal. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of information processing for a delayed purchase method in an information processing system. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a product page, etc., on an EC site. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of information processing for a delayed purchase method in an information processing system. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a My Page. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of information processing for a pre-purchase method in an information processing system. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of information processing for a pre-purchase method in an information processing system.

[0007] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Various features shown in the following embodiments (including the following modified examples, the same applies hereinafter) can be combined with each other.

[0008] <First Embodiment> 1. System Configuration Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of an information processing system 1000. As shown in Fig. 1, the information processing system 1000 includes, as a system configuration, at least a server device 100, a store device 110, an EC (Electronic Commerce) site server device 120, a user terminal 130, and a credit issuing server device 140. The server device 100, the store device 110, the EC site server device 120, the user terminal 130, and the credit issuing server device 140 are communicably connected via a network 150.

[0009] The server device 100 is a device that executes the main processes described in the specification. As will be described later, the server device 100 provides a donation function for carbon neutral initiatives on web pages for selling products on e-commerce sites, etc. The server device 100 also requests the issuance of offset certificates from the credit issuing server device 140, and issues a certificate for the user (a carbon offset certificate for the user) based on the received offset certificate, or issues a certificate for the product seller (a carbon offset certificate for the store) based on the received offset certificate. The certificate for the user is an example of a first certificate. The certificate for the store is an example of a second certificate.

[0010] The store device 110 is a device of a seller that sells products. The EC site server device 120 builds a website unique to the product seller on the Internet and provides functions related to the EC site. The functions related to the EC site include, for example, a product search function, a shopping cart function, a payment function, and a personal page function. The product search function is a search function that allows users to search for desired products on the EC site. The shopping cart function is a function that allows users to save products they want to purchase in a shopping cart and purchase them all at once. The payment function is a function that allows users to process payments using a credit card or the like when purchasing products. The personal page function is a function that allows users to check their purchase history, order status, etc. on the EC site. The user terminal 130 is a device operated by a user who purchases products on the EC site. The credit issuing server device 140 is a device of a predetermined certification organization that issues carbon offset certificates (hereinafter also referred to as carbon credit offset certificates).

[0011] 1, for simplicity, only one user terminal 130 is illustrated, but the information processing system 1000 may include multiple user terminals 130. However, for simplicity of explanation, the following description will be given using one user terminal 130 as an example.

[0012] 1 illustrates a smartphone as an example of the user terminal 130, the user terminal 130 is not limited to a smartphone and may be a tablet computer, a PC (Personal Computer), etc. The user terminal 130 may be any device that can purchase a product on an EC site and display a certificate or the like for the user.

[0013] Here, the claimed information processing system may be composed of multiple devices or may be composed of a single device. When the claimed information processing system is composed of a single device, an example of that device is the server device 100. When the claimed information processing system is composed of a plurality of devices, an example of the plurality of devices is a cloud system that provides the functions of the server device 100, or the server device 100 and the credit issuing server device 140, or the server device 100 and the EC site server device 120, etc. A cloud system is composed of, for example, a plurality of server devices.

[0014] 2. Hardware Configuration (1) Hardware Configuration of Server Device 100 Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the server device 100. The server device 100 includes, as its hardware configuration, a control unit 210, a storage unit 220, a communication unit 230, and an internal bus 240. The control unit 210, the storage unit 220, and the communication unit 230 are electrically connected via the internal bus 240.

[0015] The control unit 210 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, and controls the entire server device 100 .

[0016] The memory unit 220 is one of a hard disk drive (HDD), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a solid state drive (SSD), or any combination thereof, and stores programs and data used by the control unit 210 when executing processing based on the programs (for example, product information for products sold on the EC site, carbon offset certificates, reference information, etc., as described below).

[0017] The control unit 210 reads out a program stored in the storage unit 220 and executes processing based on the read program, thereby realizing the processing of the server device 100 and the functions of the server device 100. The storage unit 220 is an example of a storage medium. Note that, in the first embodiment, the data used when the control unit 210 executes processing based on the program is described as being stored in the storage unit 220, but the data may also be stored in a storage unit of another device that can communicate with the server device 100. In other words, the data may be stored in a storage unit of any device as long as the data can be referenced and / or acquired by the control unit 210.

[0018] The communication unit 230 connects the server device 100 to the network 150 and controls communication with other devices. Note that the number of each hardware component constituting the server device 100 is not limited to one, and two or more components may exist as necessary. The server device 100 may also have hardware components other than those shown in FIG. 2 . The same applies to the user terminal device 130 described below.

[0019] The hardware configurations of the EC site server device 120 and the credit issuing server device 140 are similar to that of the server device 100 .

[0020] (2) Hardware Configuration of User Terminal 130 Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the user terminal 130. The user terminal 130 includes, as its hardware configuration, a control unit 310, a storage unit 320, an input / output unit 330, a communication unit 340, and an internal bus 360. The control unit 310, the storage unit 320, the input / output unit 330, and the communication unit 340 are electrically connected via the internal bus 360.

[0021] The control unit 310 is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) or the like, and performs overall control of the user terminal 130. The storage unit 320 is any one of ROM, RAM, SSD, or any combination thereof, and stores programs, data used when the control unit 310 executes processing based on the programs, etc. The control unit 310 reads out the programs stored in the storage unit 320 and executes processing based on the read out programs, thereby realizing the functions of the user terminal 130, etc.

[0022] The input / output unit 330 is a touch panel display or the like, which inputs operation information and displays information based on the operation of the operator. The communication unit 340 connects the user terminal 130 to the network 150 via a base station or the like, and controls communication with other devices.

[0023] The hardware configuration of the in-store device 110 is similar to that of the user terminal 130 .

[0024] 3. Information Processing The information processing according to the first embodiment will be described below. (1) Overview of Processing The control unit 210 receives a carbon credit offset certificate. The carbon credit offset certificate is a carbon credit offset certificate issued by a carbon credit issuing company. The control unit 210 issues a user certificate related to the carbon neutral initiative based on the carbon credit offset certificate. The user certificate is a certificate for customers who have purchased a product and donated the costs related to the carbon neutral initiative. The customer's donation is deposited by the product seller. More specifically, the customer's donation is deposited in the server device 100 via the store device 110. This configuration allows the user certificate to be issued quickly. The user can contribute to the carbon neutral initiative while shopping on the e-commerce site as usual. This ultimately leads to satisfaction with the purchase and personal satisfaction from being environmentally conscious.

[0025] (2) Processing Details (2-1) Post-purchase Method FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram (part 1) showing an example of information processing of the post-purchase method in the information processing system 1000. In sequence SQ401, the control unit 210 receives a request to generate a GUI component or the like from the EC site server device 120. For example, the request to generate a GUI component or the like includes product information for each of multiple products sold on the EC site server device 120. The product information includes information such as identification information for identifying the product, product name, product category, product manufacturer information, model number, sales price, list price, sale date, sales region, and, if the product is also sold in a physical store, the name of the store, weight, material, and color.

[0026] When a request to generate a GUI component or the like is received, in sequence SQ402, the control unit 210 acquires information about the carbon dioxide emissions of each product sold on the EC site and the amount of donation corresponding to the carbon dioxide emissions. More specifically, the control unit 210 calculates the carbon dioxide emissions and donation amount related to the product based on the product information and reference information.

[0027] An example of the reference information is association data that sets a correspondence between product information, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions set for each product, and the amount of donation corresponding to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions. Based on the product information for each product sold on the e-commerce site, the control unit 210 acquires the amount of carbon dioxide emissions and the amount of donation associated with the corresponding product information in the reference information, and calculates the amount of carbon dioxide emissions and the amount of donation related to the product. More preferably, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions includes multiple emissions. One of the multiple emissions is the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that offsets 100% of the carbon dioxide emissions related to the product. Another of the multiple emissions is the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that offsets a portion of the carbon dioxide emissions related to the product (e.g., carbon dioxide emissions associated with delivery or laundry of the product). The control unit 210 acquires, as the amount of carbon dioxide emissions and the amount of donation related to the product, for example, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that offsets 100% of the carbon dioxide emissions and the amount of donation corresponding to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions, and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that offsets a portion of the carbon dioxide emissions (e.g., carbon dioxide emissions associated with delivery or laundry of the product) and the amount of donation corresponding to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions.

[0028] Another example of reference information is a trained model. The trained model is trained using product information as input data and multiple carbon dioxide emissions related to the product and donation amounts corresponding to each of the multiple emissions as output data. The control unit 210 inputs product information for each product sold on the EC site as input data to the trained model, and obtains multiple carbon dioxide emissions related to the product and donation amounts corresponding to each of the multiple emissions as output data from the trained model.

[0029] In sequence SQ403, the control unit 210 generates a GUI component for each product sold on the EC site and a donation screen that is called up via the GUI component. As will be described later, the donation screen includes multiple carbon dioxide emissions related to the product and donation amounts corresponding to each of the multiple emissions.

[0030] In sequence SQ404, the control unit 210 transmits the generated GUI components for each product sold on the EC site and the donation screen invoked via the GUI components to the EC site server device 120. The control unit of the EC site server device 120, upon receiving the GUI components and the donation screen, places each of the GUI components on the corresponding screen (also referred to as a web page) on the EC site. The following description assumes that the control unit of the EC site server device 120 places the GUI components on the product page of the corresponding product. A product page is a page (screen) on the EC site that displays detailed information about individual products, such as the product name, product image, and price. However, placing GUI components on a product page (embedding them on a product page) is merely an example, and the control unit of the EC site server device 120 may also place GUI components on a product cart page or a thank you page displayed after a product is purchased. A cart page is a web page on an EC site where users can review and / or edit selected products before purchasing them. It is also referred to simply as a shopping cart. A thank you page is a page to which a user is redirected when purchasing a product on an EC site, and is a web page that expresses gratitude for the user's actions.

[0031] 5 is a diagram showing an example of a product page on an EC site. The product page 500 includes a GUI component 510. When the GUI component 510 is selected, in sequence SQ405, the control unit of the EC site server device 120 transmits a donation screen corresponding to the selected GUI component 510 to the user terminal 130.

[0032] In sequence SQ406, the control unit 310 of the user terminal 130 displays a donation screen on the input / output unit 330. The donation screen may be displayed by enlarging the lower part of the GUI component 510, or may be superimposed on the product page 500. Figure 5 shows an example in which the lower part of the GUI component 510 is enlarged and displayed.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 5 , the donation screen is configured to allow the user to select different donation amounts. Selection button 520 is a button selected when offsetting 100% of the carbon dioxide associated with the product displayed on product page 500 (a T-shirt in the example of FIG. 5 ), and indicates that 300 yen will be donated. 300 yen is an example of a donation amount for offsetting 100% of the carbon dioxide associated with the product. Selection button 530 is a button selected when offsetting the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the delivery and washing of the product displayed on product page 500 (a T-shirt in the example of FIG. 5 ), and indicates that 100 yen will be donated. 100 yen is an example of a donation amount for offsetting a portion of the carbon dioxide associated with the product. The donation amount (300 yen) corresponding to selection button 520 and / or the donation amount (100 yen) corresponding to selection button 530 are examples of donation amounts that vary depending on the product. The donation amount varies depending on the type, material, size, place of production, etc. of the product.

[0034] Selection button 540 is a button selected when offsetting carbon dioxide emissions to an extent of one's will, and indicates a donation of 50 yen. This donation amount is an example of a fixed amount that does not depend on the product. In other words, the different donation amounts include donation amounts that vary depending on the product and donation amounts that are fixed depending on the product. As shown in FIG. 5, by presenting the user with multiple donation amounts as options, the user can contribute to carbon neutral efforts with little burden.

[0035] When the amount of the donation is selected via the selection button on the donation screen, in sequence SQ407, donation information including the donation amount is sent to the EC site server device 120. Note that if the option to not make a donation is selected on the donation screen, donation information indicating a donation amount of 0 yen is sent to the EC site server device 120, but for the sake of simplicity, the following description will be given assuming that the selection button 520 to offset 100% of the carbon dioxide associated with the product has been selected.

[0036] In sequence SQ408, the EC site server device 120 performs payment processing for the products purchased on the EC site. In sequence SQ409, the EC site server device 120 transmits a user ID that identifies the user who purchased the products and sales information related to the product purchase to the store device 110. The sales information includes the total amount of the products purchased by the user on the EC site and the donation amount selected on the donation screen, which is indicated in the donation information.

[0037] The store device 110 records the amount indicated in the sales information minus the fees for generating GUI components, etc. and the amount of the donation selected on the donation screen as the store's profit, and in sequence SQ410, sends the user ID, the fees for generating GUI components, etc. and the amount of the donation selected on the donation screen (also called the certificate purchase cost) to the server device 100.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram (part 2) showing an example of information processing for the deferred purchase method in the information processing system 1000. The processing in FIG. 6 is a continuation of the processing in FIG. 4. In sequence SQ411, the control unit 210 transmits to the credit issuing server device 140 a request to issue an offset certificate, which includes the amount of the donation as information on the transfer amount. The request to issue the offset certificate may also include information such as the offset amount according to the amount of the donation. The processing in sequence SQ411 is an example of processing in which the control unit 210 requests the carbon credit issuing company to issue an offset certificate for the carbon credits for the expenses, triggered by the receipt of expenses, including the donation, from the seller of the product.

[0039] Upon receiving the request for issuing an offset certificate, in sequence SQ412, the credit issuing server device 140 issues an offset certificate with an offset amount corresponding to the amount of the donation. In sequence SQ413, the credit issuing server device 140 transmits the issued offset certificate to the server device 100 that made the request.

[0040] Upon receiving the offset certificate, in sequence SQ414, control unit 210 stores the offset certificate in a predetermined storage area such as storage unit 220. The processing of sequence SQ414 is an example of processing in which control unit 210 receives an offset certificate for carbon credits equivalent to the cost from a carbon credit issuing company.

[0041] In sequence SQ415, the control unit 210 issues a certificate (a carbon offset certificate for the user issued by the server device 100) for the user who made the donation, identified by the user ID, based on the offset certificate issued by the credit issuing server device 140 stored in a predetermined storage area. Here, the user certificate refers to, for example, a certificate that includes the same content as the offset certificate issued by the credit issuing server device 140, but is issued independently by the server device 100, not by the credit issuing server device 140, which is the authentication authority. The processing of sequence SQ415 is an example of a process in which the control unit 210 issues a certificate for the user based on the received carbon credit offset certificate. The processing of sequence SQ415 is also an example of a process in which the control unit 210 issues a certificate for the user for the amount of donation selected on the product purchase screen. In sequence SQ416, the control unit 210 associates the generated user certificate with the user ID and the like and transmits it to the EC site server device 120. In sequence SQ417, the control unit of the EC site server device 120 that has received the certificate for the user creates a personal page or the like for the user identified by the user ID, including the certificate for the user.

[0042] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a My Page 700. As shown in FIG. 7, My Page 700 includes at least a button 710 for displaying a certificate for the user and information 720 about shipping costs for carbon dioxide offset by the user on the EC site. When the control unit of the EC site server device 120 detects that the button 710 has been selected, it controls the display of a certificate display screen 730, including a certificate for the user 740, on the user terminal 130, etc. The certificate display screen 730 displays all certificates previously issued to the user. In the example of FIG. 7, one certificate for the user 740 is displayed as a certificate issued within the past three months. Customers (users) of the EC site can contribute to carbon neutrality efforts with minimal effort, which increases their shopping satisfaction. Furthermore, being able to see the results of their own contributions to carbon neutrality efforts also increases their own satisfaction.

[0043] In sequence SQ418, the control unit 210 issues a certificate (store-specific carbon offset certificate) for the product seller (store) based on the offset certificate issued by the credit issuing server device 140 stored in a specified storage area. Here, the store-specific certificate refers to, for example, a certificate that includes the same content as the offset certificate issued by the credit issuing server device 140, but is issued independently by the server device 100, not by the credit issuing server device 140, which is the certification authority. The processing of sequence SQ418 is an example of processing in which the control unit 210 issues a store-specific certificate regarding carbon neutrality efforts based on the carbon credit offset certificate. The store-specific certificate is a certificate for the product seller. The processing of sequence SQ418 is also an example of processing in which a store-specific certificate is issued based on the received carbon credit offset certificate. In sequence SQ419, the control unit 210 transmits the generated store-specific certificate to the store device 110. The above-described processing allows stores to easily begin their carbon neutrality efforts. It also allows stores to offset carbon dioxide emissions at no cost to them.

[0044] Furthermore, with the post-purchase method described above, certificates for stores and certificates for users can be issued appropriately and efficiently based on offset certificates. The order in which the certificates for users and the certificates for stores are issued does not matter. Either can be issued first, or they can be issued simultaneously. The same applies to the advance purchase method described below.

[0045] (2-2) Advance Purchase Method FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram (part 1) showing an example of information processing for the advance purchase method in the information processing system 1000. In sequence SQ801, the control unit 210 transmits to the credit issuing server device 140 a request for issuing an offset certificate, which includes a predetermined amount as information on the transfer amount. The predetermined amount is an amount (e.g., 1 million yen) equivalent to the offset amount that offsets 100% of the carbon dioxide associated with at least multiple products. The offset certificate issuance request may also include information such as the offset amount corresponding to the predetermined amount. The processing of sequence SQ801 is an example of processing in which the control unit 210 requests a carbon credit issuing company to issue an offset certificate for a predetermined amount of carbon credits. As will be described later, the predetermined amount is an amount equal to or greater than the cost of the carbon credits (the amount donated by the user).

[0046] Upon receiving the request for issuing an offset certificate, the credit issuing server device 140 issues an offset certificate with an offset amount corresponding to a predetermined amount in sequence SQ802. In sequence SQ803, the credit issuing server device 140 transmits the issued offset certificate to the server device 100 that made the request.

[0047] Upon receiving the offset certificate, in sequence SQ804, the control unit 210 stores the offset certificate in a predetermined storage area in the storage unit 220 or the like. The control unit 210 stores the offset certificate in association with the predetermined amount paid when the offset certificate was issued. The processing of sequence SQ804 is an example of processing in which the control unit 210 receives an offset certificate for a predetermined amount of carbon credits from a carbon credit issuing company.

[0048] The processing of sequences SQ805 to SQ814 is similar to the processing of sequences SQ401 to SQ410, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0049] FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of information processing for the advance purchase method in the information processing system 1000. In sequence SQ815, the control unit 210 issues a certificate (a carbon offset certificate for the user issued by the server device 100) for the user who made a donation and is identified by the user ID, based on the offset certificate issued by the credit issuing server device 140 stored in a predetermined storage area. The processing of sequence SQ815 is an example of processing in which the control unit 210 issues a certificate for the user based on the carbon credit offset certificate in response to the receipt of expenses, including donations, from the product seller. In sequence SQ816, the control unit 210 associates the generated user certificate with the user ID and transmits it to the EC site server device 120. In sequence SQ817, the control unit of the EC site server device 120, upon receiving the user certificate, creates a personal page for the user identified by the user ID, including the user certificate.

[0050] In sequence SQ818, the control unit 210 issues a certificate (a carbon offset certificate for the store) for the product seller (for the store) based on the offset certificate issued by the credit issuing server device 140, which is stored in a predetermined storage area. The processing of sequence SQ818 is an example of processing in which the control unit 210 issues a second certificate based on the carbon credit offset certificate in response to the receipt of expenses, including donations, from the product seller. In sequence SQ819, the control unit 210 transmits the generated certificate for the store to the in-store device 110.

[0051] In sequence SQ820, the control unit 210 calculates the amount (also referred to as the remaining amount) obtained by subtracting the amount of the issuance of the user certificate and the store certificate (e.g., the donation amount) from the predetermined amount stored in association with the offset certificate, and stores the amount in a predetermined storage area such as the storage unit 220 in association with the offset certificate. In sequence SQ821, the control unit 210 determines whether the remaining amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount (e.g., 50,000 yen). If the control unit 210 determines that the remaining amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount (e.g., 50,000 yen), it skips the following processing. If the control unit 210 determines that the remaining amount is less than the predetermined amount, it executes the processing for requesting the issuance of a new offset certificate, etc., as described below. The control unit 210 may change the predetermined amount depending on date and time information, etc., based on the past issuance history of user certificates and store certificates.

[0052] The processing of sequences SQ822 to S824 is the same as the processing of sequences SQ801 to SQ803. However, the processing of sequence SQ822 is an example of processing in which the control unit 210 requests the carbon credit issuing company to issue a new offset certificate for the specified amount of carbon credits when the amount obtained by subtracting the amount related to the donation from the specified amount falls below a certain amount. Upon receiving the offset certificate, in sequence SQ825, the control unit 210 stores the offset certificate in a specified storage area such as the storage unit 220. The control unit 210 associates the amount obtained by adding up the specified amount paid when issuing the offset certificate and the remaining amount as a new remaining amount with the offset certificate and stores this amount in a specified storage area such as the storage unit 220.

[0053] According to the above-mentioned advance purchase method, since the offset certificate is issued in advance, a certificate for the user and a certificate for the store can be issued promptly based on the offset certificate.

[0054] As described above, according to the processing of the first embodiment, a certificate can be issued promptly to the user. The user can contribute to carbon neutral efforts by shopping on the usual e-commerce site. This ultimately leads to satisfaction with the purchase and personal satisfaction from being environmentally conscious. In addition, stores can easily start carbon neutral efforts. Furthermore, carbon dioxide can be offset without any cost burden on the store.

[0055] (Modification) A part of the processing of the server device 100 described above may be executed by another device such as the EC site server device 120. Also, a part of the processing of the EC site server device 120 etc. may be executed by the server device 100.

[0056] <Additional Notes> This embodiment includes the following disclosure.

[0057] (Supplementary Note 1) An information processing system having at least one control unit, wherein the control unit receives a carbon credit offset certificate, the carbon credit offset certificate being a carbon credit offset certificate issued by a carbon credit issuing company, and issues a first certificate related to carbon neutral efforts based on the carbon credit offset certificate, the first certificate being a certificate from a customer of the product who has purchased the product and donated costs related to the carbon neutral efforts, and the customer's donation is deposited by the seller of the product.

[0058] (Supplementary Note 2) The information processing system according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the control unit issues a second certificate regarding carbon neutral initiatives based on the carbon credit offset certificate, and the second certificate is a certificate issued by the seller of the product.

[0059] (Supplementary Note 3) An information processing system according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the control unit, upon receipt of payment of expenses including the donation from the seller of the product, requests the issuing company of the carbon credits to issue an offset certificate for the carbon credits for the expenses, receives the offset certificate for the carbon credits for the expenses from the issuing company of the carbon credits, and issues the first certificate based on the received offset certificate for the carbon credits.

[0060] (Supplementary Note 4) An information processing system as described in Supplementary Note 2, which, upon receipt of expenses including the donation from the seller of the product, requests the issuing company of the carbon credits to issue an offset certificate for the carbon credits for the expenses, receives the offset certificate for the carbon credits for the expenses from the issuing company of the carbon credits, and issues the second certificate based on the received offset certificate for the carbon credits.

[0061] (Supplementary Note 5) An information processing system according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the control unit requests the issuing company of the carbon credits to issue offset certificates for the carbon credits for a predetermined amount, receives the offset certificates for the carbon credits for the predetermined amount from the issuing company of the carbon credits, and issues the first certificate based on the offset certificates for the carbon credits upon receipt of payment of expenses including the donation from the seller of the product, and the predetermined amount is equal to or greater than the cost of the carbon credits.

[0062] (Supplementary Note 6) An information processing system according to Supplementary Note 5, wherein the control unit requests the carbon credit issuing company to issue a new offset certificate for the carbon credit for the specified amount when the amount obtained by subtracting the amount related to the donation from the specified amount falls below a certain amount.

[0063] (Supplementary Note 7) An information processing system as described in Supplementary Note 2, wherein the control unit requests the issuing company of the carbon credits to issue offset certificates for the carbon credits for a predetermined amount, receives the offset certificates for the carbon credits for the predetermined amount from the issuing company of the carbon credits, and issues the second certificate based on the offset certificates for the carbon credits upon receipt of payment of expenses including the donation from the seller of the product, and the predetermined amount is equal to or greater than the cost of the carbon credits.

[0064] (Appendix 8) An information processing system according to appendix 7, wherein the control unit requests the carbon credit issuing company to issue a new offset certificate for the carbon credit for the specified amount when the amount obtained by subtracting the amount related to the donation from the specified amount falls below a certain amount.

[0065] (Supplementary Note 9) The information processing system according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the control unit issues the first certificate for the amount of the donation selected on a screen when purchasing the product.

[0066] (Supplementary Note 10) The information processing system according to Supplementary Note 9, wherein the control unit generates the screen, and the screen is configured to allow different donation amounts to be selected.

[0067] (Supplementary Note 11) The information processing system according to Supplementary Note 10, wherein the different donation amounts include donation amounts that vary depending on the product.

[0068] (Supplementary Note 12) The information processing system according to Supplementary Note 11, wherein the amount of donation that varies depending on the product includes a donation amount for offsetting 100% of the carbon associated with the product, and a donation amount for offsetting a portion of the carbon associated with the product.

[0069] (Supplementary Note 13) The information processing system according to Supplementary Note 10, wherein the different amounts of donations include a fixed amount that is not dependent on the product.

[0070] (Supplementary Note 14) An information processing method executed by an information processing system, comprising: receiving a carbon credit offset certificate; the carbon credit offset certificate is a carbon credit offset certificate issued by a carbon credit issuing company; issuing a first certificate related to carbon neutral efforts based on the carbon credit offset certificate; the first certificate is a certificate from a customer of the product who purchased the product and donated costs related to the carbon neutral efforts; and the customer's donation is deposited by the seller of the product.

[0071] (Supplementary Note 15) A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing system according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 13.

[0072] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described, they are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiments may be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The embodiments and their modifications are intended to be included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the inventions and their equivalents as set forth in the claims.

[0073] 100: Server device 110: Store device 120: EC site server device 130: User terminal 140: Credit card issuing server device 150: Network 210: Control unit 220: Storage unit 230: Communication unit 240: Internal bus

Claims

1. An information processing system having at least one control unit, wherein the control unit receives a carbon credit offset certificate, the carbon credit offset certificate being a carbon credit offset certificate issued by a carbon credit issuing company, and issues a first certificate related to carbon neutral efforts based on the carbon credit offset certificate, the first certificate being a certificate from a customer of the product who has purchased the product and donated costs related to the carbon neutral efforts, and the customer's donation is deposited by the seller of the product.

2. An information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit issues a second certificate regarding carbon neutral initiatives based on the carbon credit offset certificate, and the second certificate is a certificate issued by the seller of the product.

3. An information processing system as described in claim 1, wherein the control unit, upon receipt of expenses including the donation from the seller of the product, requests the carbon credit issuing company to issue an offset certificate for the carbon credit for the expenses, receives the carbon credit offset certificate for the expenses from the carbon credit issuing company, and issues the first certificate based on the received carbon credit offset certificate.

4. An information processing system as described in claim 2, which, upon receipt of expenses including the donation from the seller of the product, requests the issuing company of the carbon credits to issue an offset certificate for the carbon credits for the expenses, receives the offset certificate for the carbon credits for the expenses from the issuing company of the carbon credits, and issues the second certificate based on the received offset certificate for the carbon credits.

5. An information processing system as described in claim 1, wherein the control unit requests the issuing company of the carbon credits to issue an offset certificate for the carbon credits for a predetermined amount, receives the offset certificate for the carbon credits for the predetermined amount from the issuing company of the carbon credits, and issues the first certificate based on the offset certificate for the carbon credits upon receipt of payment of expenses including the donation from the seller of the product, and the predetermined amount is equal to or greater than the cost of the carbon credits.

6. An information processing system as described in claim 5, wherein the control unit requests the carbon credit issuing company to issue a new offset certificate for the carbon credit for the specified amount when the amount obtained by subtracting the amount related to the donation from the specified amount falls below a certain amount.

7. An information processing system as described in claim 2, wherein the control unit requests the issuing company of the carbon credits to issue an offset certificate for the carbon credits for a predetermined amount, receives the offset certificate for the carbon credits for the predetermined amount from the issuing company of the carbon credits, and issues the second certificate based on the offset certificate for the carbon credits upon receipt of payment of expenses including the donation from the seller of the product, and the predetermined amount is equal to or greater than the cost of the carbon credits.

8. An information processing system as described in claim 7, wherein the control unit requests the carbon credit issuing company to issue a new offset certificate for the carbon credit for the specified amount when the amount obtained by subtracting the amount related to the donation from the specified amount falls below a certain amount.

9. An information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit issues the first certificate for the amount of the donation selected on the screen when purchasing the product.

10. An information processing system according to claim 9, wherein the control unit generates the screen, and the screen is configured to allow different donation amounts to be selected.

11. An information processing system according to claim 10, wherein the different donation amounts include donation amounts that vary depending on the product.

12. An information processing system according to claim 11, wherein the amount of donation that varies depending on the product includes a donation amount for offsetting 100% of the carbon associated with the product, and a donation amount for offsetting a portion of the carbon associated with the product.

13. An information processing system according to claim 10, wherein the different amounts of donations include a fixed amount that is not dependent on the product.

14. An information processing method executed by an information processing system, comprising: receiving a carbon credit offset certificate; the carbon credit offset certificate is a carbon credit offset certificate issued by a carbon credit issuing company; issuing a first certificate related to carbon neutral efforts based on the carbon credit offset certificate; the first certificate is a certificate from a customer of the product who purchased the product and donated the costs related to the carbon neutral efforts; and the customer's donation is deposited by the seller of the product.

15. A program for causing a computer to function as an information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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