Japan formulated the National Action Plan for Marine Plastic Litter in May 2019. Focusing on the efforts to prevent outflow of plastic litter to the ocean, this action plan elaborates effective measures in eight fields.
Waste-processing system that ensures proper collection and disposal
Prevention of littering, illegal dumping, and unintentional spilling of waste into the oceans
Collection of scattered waste on land
Collection of plastic litter in the oceans
Innovation in development of and conversion to alternative materials
Cooperation with stakeholders
International cooperation for promoting measures in developing countries
Consideration on actual situations and accumulation of scientific knowledge
Japan has developed the Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics. The strategy has set milestones based on the concept of 3Rs+Renewable and divided into three major efforts: reduce single-use plastic, reuse or recycle plastic, and use recycled material or biomass plastic. Table 1 lists these milestones.
Table 1. Milestones Towards Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics
Effort | Milestone | Year (by) |
|---|---|---|
Reduce single-use plastic | Cumulative 25% reduction in single-use plastics | 2030 |
Reuse or recycle plastic | Reusable/recyclable design for all containers and packaging/products | 2025 |
60% rate of recycling for containers and packaging | 2030 | |
100% effective utilisation of used plastics, including circular economy measures | 2035 | |
Use recycled materials or biomass plastic | Doubled use of recycled materials | 2030 |
Maximum introduction (about 2 million tonnes) of biomass plastics | 2030 |
Source: Teraishi (2019).
Japan is aiming for zero emission of marine plastics by promoting beautification and cleaning activities, curbing outflow of microplastics, collecting marine debris, and preventing illegal dumping (Teraishi, 2019). Raising public awareness to realise a sound material-cycle society is essential to ensure that efforts will be successfully adopted.
Government of Japan (2019), National Action Plan for Marine Plastic Litter (in Japanese). https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/kaiyo_plastic/dai1/plan.pdf (accessed 21 November 2019).
Teraishi, M. (2019), ‘Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics’, Japan Environment Quarterly, 20, pp.3.
Japan formulated the National Action Plan for Marine Plastic Litter in May 2019. Focusing on the efforts to prevent outflow of plastic litter to the ocean, this action plan elaborates effective measures in eight fields.
Waste-processing system that ensures proper collection and disposal
Prevention of littering, illegal dumping, and unintentional spilling of waste into the oceans
Collection of scattered waste on land
Collection of plastic litter in the oceans
Innovation in development of and conversion to alternative materials
Cooperation with stakeholders
International cooperation for promoting measures in developing countries
Consideration on actual situations and accumulation of scientific knowledge
Japan has developed the Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics. The strategy has set milestones based on the concept of 3Rs+Renewable and divided into three major efforts: reduce single-use plastic, reuse or recycle plastic, and use recycled material or biomass plastic. Table 1 lists these milestones.
Table 1. Milestones Towards Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics
Effort | Milestone | Year (by) |
|---|---|---|
Reduce single-use plastic | Cumulative 25% reduction in single-use plastics | 2030 |
Reuse or recycle plastic | Reusable/recyclable design for all containers and packaging/products | 2025 |
60% rate of recycling for containers and packaging | 2030 | |
100% effective utilisation of used plastics, including circular economy measures | 2035 | |
Use recycled materials or biomass plastic | Doubled use of recycled materials | 2030 |
Maximum introduction (about 2 million tonnes) of biomass plastics | 2030 |
Source: Teraishi (2019).
Japan is aiming for zero emission of marine plastics by promoting beautification and cleaning activities, curbing outflow of microplastics, collecting marine debris, and preventing illegal dumping (Teraishi, 2019). Raising public awareness to realise a sound material-cycle society is essential to ensure that efforts will be successfully adopted.
Government of Japan (2019), National Action Plan for Marine Plastic Litter (in Japanese). https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/kaiyo_plastic/dai1/plan.pdf (accessed 21 November 2019).
Teraishi, M. (2019), ‘Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics’, Japan Environment Quarterly, 20, pp.3.
