What is the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics?

The new law to reduce single-use plastics

In April 2022, the Japanese government enforced “the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics” aka the New Plastic Law. It promotes 3R (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle)+Renewable throughout the entire process of plastic product design, sales and waste disposal, and fosters the transition to the circular economy.

There are various reasons why Japan finally decided to move forward to reduce the amount of plastic.

Background of Japan’s growing strictness on plastic products

Firstly, it’s clear that plastic waste has a significant impact on the ecosystem, and it can be found even in our foods in the shape of microplastic. Secondly, although Japan has promoted 3R since the early 2000s in response to the increase in plastic disposal, the nation has been one of the largest countries to produce both plastic products and waste. According to the UN report, Japan’s plastic packaging waste per capita is on par with that of the EU and China, and second only to the US as of 2014.

Thirdly, Japan has made the following international commitment to address global environmental issues: Osaka Blue Vision Ocean, Plastic Material Cycle Strategy and Carbon Neutral by 2050. To achieve these goals, the law requires not only businesses and the local government but also consumers to work together and take concrete actions to reduce plastic waste, especially single-use plastics.

Businesses cannot achieve goals without customers

Here are some changes that consumers have seen in their daily life after the measure has been taken. As a starter, businesses offer customers various alternatives to single-use plastics such as paper-made straws and wooden cutleries. In addition, they are required to take measures to induce consumers not to use a plastic product such as by charging a fee for it. Thanks to this measure, cities are now full of people carrying reusable bags.

Moreover, businesses engage customers to collect used plastic products. Not to mention plastic bottles and plastic food trays, but also hangers and cosmetic containers, are eligible for collecting and recycling.

Small steps but society is clearly changing for the better

Although the new legislation has penalty provisions (fine of up to 500,000 yen), it is rather understood as an obligation to make the best efforts. However, even Japanese society has cast a stern eye toward businesses that don’t engage in reducing plastics enough so that businesses have no choice but to take action to survive this era.