Japan Plastic Waste Management Market Overview, 2028

Japan has the second-highest plastic management index (PMI) in the world because of its advanced waste management system and high levels of local cooperation. Japan’s per capita plastic consumption is also quite high. According to the Plastic Management Index (PMI), a metric for comparing countries’ performances on plastic waste management from various angles, Japan is ranked second. Japan is among the top countries in the world when it comes to managing PET bottles, with a collection rate of 93% and a recycling rate of 85.8% (as of 2019). Plastic waste management refers to methods and approaches used to reprocess plastic material rather than dumping it into landfills, waterways, or otherwise allowing it to pollute the environment. The reduced use of virgin plastic in product manufacturing is the most important factor promoting plastic waste management.

According to the research report “Japan Plastic Waste Management Market Overview, 2028, published by Bonafide Research, the market is expected to add USD 333.48 Million by 2028. Plastic production is increasing as urbanisation and industrialization expand. The increase in the number of commercial venues such as malls, theatres, restaurants, hospitals, educational institutions, and others results in an increase in the amount of plastic waste, which eventually opens up more opportunities for the need for waste management. Additionally, raising awareness about plastic recycling and reprocessing waste materials are important factors in driving demand for plastic waste management. The awareness about plastic waste management has increased significantly with the progress in consumer education and rising awareness about health and environment. The growing population and the growing income levels of people have generated new opportunities for the plastic waste management industry. Japan recycles plastic waste through three methods: chemical, material, and thermal. In the chemical method, the plastic waste is broken down into its constituent components; material recycling means plastic is recycled and reprocessed into a new bottle, while thermal recycling means plastic is burned in incinerators to generate energy. Japan has introduced home appliance recycling laws, automobile recycling laws, small home appliance recycling laws, and waste recycling collection models and implemented them across the country to collect plastic waste. According to the Ministry of the Environment, plastic packaging accounts for 68% of the plastic waste generated in Japan.

Based on the source, the plastic waste management market is segmented into residential, commercial, and industrial. During the forecast period, the industrial sector is expected to dominate the market for plastic waste management in Japan due to an increase in industrialization and the packaging of products. Because packaging has a very short life span, typically around 6 months or less, packaging of the product is one of the key factors that will dominate the market growth of the plastic waste management market in Japan. Based on end use, the plastic waste management market is segmented into building & construction, consumer products, electrical & electronics, industrial machinery, packaging, and automotive. The packaging segment is expected to dominate the plastic waste management market in Japan due to the increasing demand for plastics for the packaging of products to protect, preserve, transport, and display information. The Japanese government established the Plastic Resource Circulation Strategy in 2019 with the goal of transitioning to a circular economy through plastic waste management, based on the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle) plus renewables. The strategy posits the following three milestones: i) charging fees in order to reduce single-use plastic usage; ii) enforcing waste sorting at collection and efficient resource use; and iii) promoting renewable materials, renewable resources (such as paper and bioplastic), and other alternatives to plastic. Japan is one of the major plastic consumption countries due to commercial solicitations everywhere: in shopping centres, in the very dense commercial fabric of supermarkets, drugstores, and konbini, even on train station platforms in the streets, and sometimes even in the temples, with beverage vending machines.

The scarcity of treatment plants is one of the most serious issues confronting plastic waste management. Several manufacturing units and sources dump their plastic waste into bodies of water or on land; additionally, a lack of understanding of waste management infrastructure is a challenge for this market. Furthermore, plastic waste management is a capital-intensive process. Processing and treating waste necessitates skilled and motivated labour, which raises operating costs and reduces profit margins. This is expected to have a negative impact on market growth during the forecast period.

Considered in this report
• Geography: Japan
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Make this report your own

Have queries/questions regarding a report

Take advantage of intelligence tailored to your business objective

Ask an Expert

Manmayi Raval

Research Consultant

Aspects covered in this report
• Japan  plastic waste management  market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Source Type
• Residential
• Commercial & Institutional
• Industrial

By Service Type
• Collection and Transportation
• Recycling 
• Incineration
• Landfills

Don’t pay for what you don’t need. Save 30%

Customise your report by selecting specific countries or regions

Specify Scope Now

By End use
• Building and Construction
• Consumer Product
• Electrical and Electronics
• Industrial Machinery 
• Packaging
• Automotive 
• Others

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analysing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources. 

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to Plastic waste management, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.