Reduction of Food and Plastic Waste

Committee:
Sustainability & Social Responsibility
status:
Some progress
Published:
Japan continues to face significant challenges in reducing food and plastic waste, both of which contribute to climate change and resource inefficiency. Each year, the country generates approximately 6 million tons of food waste, about one bowl of rice per person per day. Despite awareness campaigns and the 2019 Food Loss Reduction Promotion Act, regulatory measures remain limited in scope and ambition. Similarly, while Japan has advanced systems for plastic waste collection and sorting, it remains one of the highest consumers of single-use plastics per capita globally. The 2020 ban on free plastic bags has had only limited behavioral impact, and excessive plastic packaging remains widespread.

Recommendations

The Japanese government should strengthen efforts to reduce food and plastic waste at the source by:
  • Setting more ambitious reduction targets and expanding producer responsibility
  • Strengthening regulations on excessive packaging and single-use plastics
  • Supporting innovation in packaging alternatives and circular economy models
  • Promoting redistribution and upcycling initiatives for surplus food
  • Expanding public awareness campaigns and collaboration with industry
Accelerating waste reduction would support Japan’s transition to a more resource-efficient, low-carbon economy and advance progress on SDG 12.