FACTSHEET
Plastic Waste Recycling inGermany and Japan

Date:
26.02.2024
Author: ECOS GmbH

Prepared as part of the project "Scientific orientation of German-Japanese cooperation on selectedclimate protection technologies within the framework of the German-Japanese Climate Protection
Declaration and the German-Japanese Environment and Energy Dialogue Forum" (FKZ UM18 18 40 40)
awarded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

ECOS Consult ❖ Westerbreite 7 ❖ 49084 Osnabrück ❖ Germany ❖ Tel: +49 (0) 541 911 909 90 ❖ Email: info@ecos.eu ❖ www.ecos.eu

Plastic Waste Recycling in Germany and Japan
Disclaimer
The staff of ECOS GmbH has prepared this report. The views and conclusions expressed in this report arethose of the staff of ECOS GmbH. All information and data have been carefully researched. However,neither ECOS GmbH nor any of its employees, contractors or subcontractors makes any warranty, express
or implied, or assumes any legal or other responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of
any information, product or process contained herein, or represents that its use would not infringe
privately owned rights.

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Plastic Waste Recycling in Germany and Japan

Content
1

Main facts at a glance ................................................................................................................ 5

2

Plastic Waste: Volume, Emissions, Recycling Rates ...................................................................... 7

3

4

5

2.1

Japan............................................................................................................................................. 7

2.2

Germany ..................................................................................................................................... 10

Political strategies and regulations to reduce plastic waste ....................................................... 14
3.1

Japan........................................................................................................................................... 14

3.2

Germany ..................................................................................................................................... 16

Plastic waste collection system................................................................................................. 17
4.1

Japan........................................................................................................................................... 17

4.2

Germany ..................................................................................................................................... 19

Technology trends and market developments........................................................................... 20
5.1

Japan........................................................................................................................................... 20

5.2

Germany ..................................................................................................................................... 21

6

Potentials for cooperation........................................................................................................ 22

7

References ............................................................................................................................... 23

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List of Abbreviations
BMUV

Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz(Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety andConsumer Protection)

GHG

Greenhouse Gas

GWh

Gigawatt hours

JCPRA

Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association

kt

1000 t

METI

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

MoEJ

Ministry of Environment JapanPET

Polyethylenterephthalate

RDF

Refuse Derived Fuel

RPF

Refuse Paper & Plastic Fuel

SDGs

Sustainable Development Goals

UBA

Umweltbundesamt (German Environment Agency)µm

micrometre

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1 Main facts at a glance
Plastic Waste Volume(2021, in mil. t)
10,00

8,24

8,00
5,70

6,00
4,00
2,00
0,00

GermanyJapan

Sources: Umweltbundesamt, 2021, Plastic Waste Management Institute, 2022

Recycling of plastic waste in Germany, 2021
Material
Recycling; 35%

Landfil or incineration
without energy recovery;
0,6%

Thermal"Recycling";
64%
ChemicalRecycling; 0,4%

Source: Conversio Market and Strategy, 2022 [24]

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Recycling of plastic waste in Japan, 2021
Landfil or incineration
without energy
recovery; 13%

Material
Recycling; 21%

ChemicalRecycling; 4%Thermal"Recycling";
62%

Source: Plastic Waste Management Institute, 2022

Recycling Rates 2021

Recycling Rates 2021

(incl. incineration)(only material & chem. recycling)

120,0%
100,0%

40,0%

99,4%

35,4%

35,0%
87,0%

80,0%

30,0%

25,0%

25,0%

60,0%

20,0%
15,0%

40,0%

10,0%
20,0%

5,0%

0,0%

0,0%
GermanyJapan

GermanyJapan

Sources: Umweltbundesamt, 2021, Plastic Waste Management Institute, 2022

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2 Plastic Waste: Volume, Emissions, Recycling Rates
2.1 Japan
Japan is the second-largest consumer of single-use plastic packaging in the world after the USA. Plastic
waste accounted for 1.9 % of industrial waste and of 14.7 % of general waste in Japan in 2022. [07]The amount of plastic waste from industry and households only slightly decreased and somewhat
stagnated in the past years as shown in the graph below.

Source: Plastic Waste Management Institute, 2022 [11]Polyethylene accounted for 33.8% of the total amount of waste plastic discharged at 2.79 mil. t,
polypropylene 24.4% at 2.01 mil. t, polystyrene 12.2% at 1.01 mil. t, and polyvinyl chloride 8.5% at 700,000
tons in 2021 [09].
The amount of waste plastic in 2021 was 8.24 million tons. The breakdown by sector is 4.01 mil. t, or
48.7%, for packaging, containers, etc., 1.48 mil. t, or 17.9%, for electrical and electronic equipment, wires
and cables, machinery, etc., and 730,000 tons, or 8.9%, for household goods, clothing and footwear,
furniture, toys, etc. [13].

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Plastic waste in Japan in 2021 [in Mio t]
HouseholdGoods; 0,73;
12%ElectricalandElectronic
Equipment;
1,48; 24%

PackagingContainers;
4,01; 64%

Source: Association for the Circulation and Re-Use of Plastics, 2022 [13]Plastic waste is mainly composed by plastic containers and packaging (65%), by PET plastic bottles andother plastics (17% each) as shown in the graph below.
Other plastic
containers andpackaging

Plastic bottles

17%
65%
17%

Plastics otherthan containers
and packaging

1% Styrofoam
trays
Source: Plastic Waste Management Institute, 2022 [11]According to the Plastic Waste Management Institute, the CO2 emissions by waste plastics in Japanaccounted to 823 mil. t in 2021. The breakdown can be seen in the graph below. [18]ECOS GmbH

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Plastic Waste Recycling in Germany and Japan

Breakdown of waste plastic CO2 emissions by sector
Packaing containers and other

1,4%

7,8%

Electric and electronic equipment,
electric wires and cables, machineryetc
Household goods/clothing.
Footwear, furniture, toys etc

6,3%

1,9%

7,1%

49,1%

9,2%

Buidling materials

Transportation

17,3%

Agriculture, forestry, and fishery

Others

Source: Plastic Waste Management Institute, 2022 [18]In 2021, Japan's official recycling rate for plastics was 87% (compared to 58% in 2005). In terms of disposal
and recovery methods, mechanical recycling increased to 1,770 kt (+40 kt; +2%), chemical recycling
increased to 290 kt (+20 kt; +7%), and energy recovery (thermal recycling) increased in total to 5,110 kt(+20 kt; ± 0%). However, 62% of the plastics were still processed by thermal “recycling”, that means
incineration with energy recovery [11]. Instead of a "recycling powerhouse", Japan can be rather seen as
an "incineration powerhouse” [12].

Recycling of plastic waste in Japan, 2021
Material
Recycling; 21%

Landfil or incineration
without energy
recovery; 13%

ChemicalRecycling; 4%Thermal"Recycling";
62%

Source: Plastic Waste Management Institute, 2022 [11]The recycling methods, shares, and total amounts of plastics processed are listed in detail below. [14]ECOS GmbH

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Plastic Waste Recycling in Germany and Japan
Category

Way of recycling

Share

Material recycling

Recycled plastic- Converted to plastic raw materials- Converted to plastic products

21%

Chemical recycling

Raw material/Monomerization
Blast furnace reductant
Coke oven chemical feedstock
Gasification/Oilification (Chemical feedstock)4%

Thermal recycling(Energy recovery)

Gasification, Oilification (Fuel)

2%

Cement raw materials/fuel24%

Refuse power generation

31%

RPF (Refuse derived paper and plastics densified Fuel)

4%

RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel)Source: Plastic Waste Management Institute, 2023 [14]The energy generation from waste incineration is steadily increasing in Japan. Approximately 70% of all
waste incineration plants in Japan (1,028 sites) use some form of surplus heat used for heating, bathing,and hot water pools. As of 2021, there were 396 waste incineration plants with power generation
facilities, accounting for 39% of all waste incineration plants, with a total power generation capacity of
2,149 MW. The total amount of electricity generated was 10,452 GWh (+299 GWh compared to theprevious year), which was enough to power approximately 2.50 million households. [14]2.2 Germany
In 2021, the total volume of produced plastic in Germany amounted to 14,038 kt, representing a decreaseof around 1.4% compared to 2019 levels. Despite a 4-5% increase from 2020, it could not fully offset the
5-6% decline experienced in 2020. The volume for recyclate and by-product reuse totaled 2,287 t,
constituting 16.3% of the total processing volume in 2021. Plastics derived from fossil raw materials
accounted for 83.7% of the total in 2021, a decrease of 4.4% from 2019 levels. The volume of plastic
packaging waste increased by a total of 1.1% compared to 2019. In the agricultural sector, the volume ofplastic construction products (e.g., films, plastic products from private end consumers) continued toincrease. [24]In 2021, plastic waste from end consumers consisted of 58.7 % packaging (3.2 million tons), 10.1 %construction, 6.1 % electronics, 6.2 % agriculture, 3.7 % vehicles, 3.2 % household, 12.0 % other [24].

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Plastic waste from end consumers in 2021

3,2%

12,0%

3,7%
6,2%

58,7%

6,1%
(3.2 mil. t)

10,1%

Packaging

Construction

Electronics

Agriculture

VehiclesHousehold

Other

Source: Conversio Market & Strategy 2021 [24]Almost 70% of processed plastic in Germany in 2021 was thermoplastics. Around two thirds of these werepolyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) as shown in the graph below. [21]breakdown of 69.8 % of the processed plastics (in mil. t] in 2021
0,725

0,957

Polyethylen (PE)3,9Polypropylen (PP)0,89
Polyvinylchlorid (PVC)

Polyethylenterephthalat (PET)2,38

Polystyrol (PS/PS-E)

Source: Umweltbundesamt, 2023 [21]The production of one ton of plastic generates almost two tons of CO2, and the incineration of the waste
adds another 2.7 tons of CO2. The manufacture of plastic products used in Germany recently released
30 mil. t of CO2 every year. With recycled plastic, emissions are only half as high on average, and can be
up to 80 % lower for individual products. [22]ECOS GmbH

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Plastic Waste Recycling in Germany and Japan
In 2021, the total amount of plastic waste in Germany was 5.67 mil. t. 0.9 mil. t accounted for industrial
waste, 5.4 mil. t for private and commercial end consumers. [23, 24] 99.4% of plastic waste was recycled
or used to generate energy. Compared to 2019, this corresponds to a decrease of 1.4%. [21]35% of the plastic waste processed in 2021 were recycled mechanically or chemically, 64.4% were used
for energy generation, 0.6% were disposed of, sent to landfill or incinerated in plants without energy
generation. [23]Plastic waste treatment in 2021

0,60%

Mechanical and raw material/chemical recycling 1,98 mil. t

64,4%
35%

Energy recovery 3,66 mil. t

Waste disposal 30,000 t

Source: Umweltbundesamt, 2023 [23]Since 1994, the total amount of mechanical recovery and by-product reuse has increased by 3,6% inaverage. Following a relatively stagnant period between 2009 and 2013, recycling efforts have picked up
pace in recent years. Feedstock recovery, which experienced significant growth early in the decade before
stabilizing around 300 kt for an extended period, dropped to approximately 26 kt in 2021, falling below
previous levels. Energy recovery quantities also decreased by around 320 kt in 2021. Approximately 23%of plastic waste overall and 20% of post-consumer waste were utilized as substitute fuel in 2021. [24]

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Source: Umweltbundesamt, 2023 [21]ECOS GmbH

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3 Political strategies and regulations to reduce plastic waste
3.1 Japan
Japan aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and to reduce Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions by 46 %below 2013 levels by fiscal year 2030. [01], [02]Improving carbon and material recycling is one of the measures adopted by the Japanese government toreach net zero. Carbon-free synthetic fuels are to be made commercially available by 2040. Furthermore,manufacturing costs of plastics are to be reduced. [01]Japan faces the second highest amount of plastic container and packaging waste per capita. At the sametime, China and other Asian countries ceased imports of plastic waste from Japan.
In order to increase the low rate of plastic waste recycling and to decrease environmental pollution frommarine plastics, a new strategy for plastic recycling was adopted by METI in 2021 as part of the Green
Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050 [03]. It addresses the whole lifecycle ofplastics and involves all stakeholders. The strategy named “3R and Renewables” sets specific milestones:• Reduce: Cumulative suppression of 25% of single-use plastics by 2030
• Reuse, recycle: Reusable/recyclable design by 2025
• Reuse/recycle 60% of containers and packaging by 2030
• Effective use of 100% of used plastics by reuse and recycling etc. by 2035
• Recycling and bio-based plastics: Double the use of recycled content by 2030 / introducing about
2 million tons of bio-based plastics by 2030
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Plastic Waste Recycling in Germany and JapanThe Plastic Resource Circulation Act in 2022 [04], including new policy measures for transition to a circular
economy through advancing circulation of resources, ranges three phases:•••

Design manufacturing, sales
Provision
Discharge ̶ collection ̶ recycling.

The key factors for success of this act are [05]:•••

Develop guidelines for Design for the Environment for manufacturers.
Set criteria for retailers and service providers to reduce single-use plastics.
Manufacturers and retailers develop a plan to collect and recycle their used products.

In addition to the 3 phases, the government formulated five specific requests to businesses and local
governments:
•
•
•
•
•

Design Guideline and Certification System for Products Using Plastics
Voluntary collection and recycling by manufacturers and distributors
Rationalization of the use of certain plastic products
Emission control, recycling, etc. by emitting companies
Separate collection and recycling of plastic-used product waste by municipalities.

The main regulations and laws in Japan related to plastic recycling are:➢Containers and Packaging Recycling Law (1995)
Target: reduce the volume of containers and packaging waste, which accounts for about 20 to 30%of the weight and 60% of the volume of household waste. The regulation places the responsibility for
waste reduction and recycling on the shoulders of consumers, municipalities, and businesses,
respectively. [08]➢Act for Establishing a Recycling-Oriented Society (2000)
Target: a society in which the consumption of natural resources is reduced and the burden on theenvironment is minimized as much as possible through the control of waste generation and its proper
recycling and disposal.
With the above law as a basic framework, the Law for Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources,
Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law, and individual recycling laws have been enacted. Individual
recycling laws consist of 6 categories, Containers and Packaging Recycling Law, Home Appliance
Recycling Law, Food Recycling Law, Construction Recycling Law, Automobile Recycling Law, Small
Home Appliance Recycling Law. [09]➢Law for Promotion of Resource Recycling of Plastics (2022)
Target: promotion of resource recycling of plastics and stipulate necessary measures at each stageof plastic-using products from design and manufacture, sale and supply, to discharge, collection, andrecycling. Designers and manufacturers are required to design in accordance with the "Guidelines forthe Design of Plastic-Used Products" established by the government. They include reducing theamount of plastic used, reusing parts, designing products that are easy to recycle, substituting
materials other than plastic, and using recycled plastic and bioplastics. [10]ECOS GmbH

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3.2 Germany
The policy in Germany is to a great extend driven by European guidelines such as the European plastics
strategy. The EU Commission's new strategy for the circular economy is primarily concerned with thedesign, labeling and recycling of plastic products: The comprehensive strategy requests that all plastic
packaging should be designed to be recyclable or reusable by 2030. It proposes specifications for packaging
that should lead to less waste and better recycling. Furthermore, a political framework for "bioplastics" isto be created. The Commission also wants to counteract environmental pollution caused by microplastics.
Finally, claims about the sustainability of products are to be more strictly regulated, thus preventing
greenwashing. [06]
The EU rules stipulate that at least 55 % of municipal waste in the EU must be recycled by 2025. This EUwide target will be increased to 60 % by 2030 and 65 % by 2035. The EU recycling target for packaging
waste is 65 % (by 2025) and 70 % (by 2030), with specific targets set for certain materials. [27].
From 2025, single-use PET drinks bottles must contain at least 25% recycled plastic (recyclate). From 2030,
this quota will be increased to at least 30% for all single-use plastic drinks bottles. Reusable PET bottles
already contained an average of 26% recycled material in 2015 [25].
The German government has tightened the target in the Circular Economy Act in 2020: The recycling rates
for municipal waste should be gradually increased to 55 % from 2025, 60 % from 2030 and 65 % from
2035. In 2021 already the recycling rate for municipal waste increased to 68%. [28] [33]. There has beena clear increase in recycling rates since 2002. The recycling rate for municipal waste exceeded to 65% for
the first time in 2012 and, following a decline in 2013, has exceeded this figure again since 2014. [30]
There is no singular law in Germany for the collection and recycling of plastics. Instead, there are a numberof relevant laws and regulations. Two of the most important are:➢Circular Economy Act
The Circular Economy Act [19] came into force on June 1, 2012.
Target: to promote the circular economy, to conserve natural resources and to ensure the protectionof people and the environment in the generation and management of waste.
Product responsibility has been extended to include the duty of care, which requires products to be
kept fit for use and only allowed to be disposed of as a last resort. The duty of care also ensures a
duty of transparency. Reports on the handling of surplus goods, returns or measures to maintain theusability of products can be required. In order to improve the recycling of waste, the separate
collection obligation for waste is to be strengthened in particular.

➢

Packaging Act
The German Packaging Act (VerpackG) of 2017 [20] transposes the European Packaging Directive
94/62/EC into German law. The target is to regulate the placing of packaging on the market as wellas the take-back and high-quality recycling of packaging waste.

In order to prevent plastic waste, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation,
Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) has adopted several measures [31]:- In 2020, the Federal Cabinet decided to ban disposable plastic products (e.g., drinking straws,
disposable crockery). It came into force EU-wide in July 2021.
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Since 2021 stricter regulations for the export of plastic waste (cleaned, well-sorted and recyclable)
are in force. The export of poorly recyclable waste from the EU to Asia and other parts of theworld will be banned.
BMUV has committed to an international commitment against marine litter ("End Plastic Pollution– Towards a Legally Binding Agreement" in March 2022.
Since January 2022, the Federal government also banned plastic bags. Lightweight plastic bags
(thickness of 15 to 50 µm) can no longer be brought into circulation.
Since 2022, an extension of the deposit obligation to all cans and plastic bottles is in force.
From 2022, the binding recycling rate for plastic waste was increased to 63 percent.
Reusable alternatives for to-go products are to be offered mandatory since January 2023.
Phasing out the use of microplastics in cosmetic products is discussed since 2023. The aim is avoluntary renunciation.

4 Plastic waste collection system
4.1 Japan
The plastic waste collection system in Japan differs depending on the source of plastic waste(household/domestic waste and industrial waste) as outlined in the flowchart of plastic waste recycling
2022 below. [15]ECOS GmbH

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Plastic Waste Recycling in Germany and Japan

Source: Plastic Waste Management Institute [15]ECOS GmbH

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Plastic Waste Recycling in Germany and Japan➢

Household Waste

Municipalities are responsible for the separate collection, sorting and cleaning of packaging waste incompliance with legal requirements. 90% of all municipalities handed over their waste to the Japan
Containers and Packaging Recycling Association (JCPRA). [16] Plastic containers and packaging collected
at designated storage facilities are handed over to the municipalities. Transportation to the factory is
performed by a recycling company.

Source: Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association, 2023 [16]➢Industrial Waste

The collection and recycling system for industrial waste is functioning as follows:
Company

JCPRA

Recycler

The JCPRA acts as a liaison between companies and recycling companies. The JCPRA outsources recycling
to external companies, which it selects through competitive bidding. The outsourcing costs, in turn, aretransferred to the companies via a quantity-dependent fee.
As of 2020, the number of operators in the channel of collection and transportation of waste plastics is535. And the number of businesses for intermediate treatment and recycling is 284 nationwide. [17]4.2 Germany
The ten German dual systems (e.g., DSD Duales System Deutschland) organize the collection, sorting andrecycling of used sales packaging for industry and trade throughout Germany. They are responsible for
ensuring that the recycling rates prescribed by law under the Packaging Act are achieved.

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Source: Reclay Group [32]All manufacturers and retailers (online and stationary) as well as importers and foreign exporters whoplace packaged goods on the market in Germany must participate in a dual system and pay so-called
participation fees to the dual system. These fees are generally included in the product price. The dual
systems commission private or municipal waste disposal companies to collect sales packaging. In principle,
consumers have access to collection containers such as yellow garbage cans and yellow sacks for packaging
made of plastics, composite materials, tinplate and aluminum.

5 Technology trends and market developments
5.1 Japan
The urge to reduce plastic waste and increase the recycling rate, and the related political measures as
described in the previous chapters, already had and are expected to have a significant impact on themarket in Japan.
As of 2021, the domestic market for recycled plastics and materials was around €1.2 billion, of which
recycled plastics account for €1 billion. In 2035, the domestic market for recycled plastics and materials is
projected to be 504 billion yen1, and the market for recycled plastics is projected to be 355.3 billion yen2.
Both are expected to more than double in size compared to today. The forecast is that an increasing

1
2

504 billion Yen = 3,12 billion Euro (by currency rate of Jan 22, 2024: 1 Euro = 161.46 Yen)
355.3 billion yen = 2,2 billion Euro (by currency rate of Jan 22, 2024)

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Plastic Waste Recycling in Germany and Japan
number of companies are adopting the product from an environmental perspective, and the expansion
will be driven by material recycling plastics. [07]Major trends of the plastic recycling market in Japan are as follows:➢

Increasing Recycling Rates
The country has set ambitious targets to reduce plastic waste and promote recycling. Efforts arefocused on enhancing collection systems, improving sorting technologies, and expanding the rangeof recyclable materials.

➢

Chemical Recycling Technologies
Chemical recycling is a prominent trend in Japan's plastic recycling. Japan has made investments indeveloping advanced chemical recycling technologies to address the challenges posed by complex
and contaminated plastics. Techniques enables the production of high-quality recycled materials.
however, this method has not been penetrated yet.

➢

Circular Economy Approaches
The concept of the circular economy is a driving force in Japan's plastic recycling trends. Japan
recognizes the need to shift from a linear "take-make-dispose" model to a circular system that
promotes resource conservation and minimizes waste generation. Japan is investing in research anddevelopment to enhance recycling technologies, promote eco-design principles, and encourage
product stewardship. These trends highlight Japan's commitment to sustainable waste management,
technological innovation, and resource conservation.

5.2 Germany
According to estimates by the Plastics Recyclers Europe association, around €1.75 billion was invested in
the expansion of plastics recycling capacities in Europe in 2021. According to the association, recycling
capacities increased by 17% from 9.6 million to 11.3 mil. t of input per year. "The positive growth we areseeing today will shape and further strengthen the market for recycled plastics in order to achieve the EUtargets," said the association president. [29]Plastics recycling is currently developing very rapidly from a niche to a trend. This is being driven by thelegal targets for plastics recycling set by the European Union and many countries around the world, as
well as by the European Green Deal, which aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent andin which the circular economy plays a significant role. Recycling rates and the quality of recyclates are
increasing as a result of stricter EU regulations and new recycling technologies.
➢

Focus is on new recycling technologies
There are currently no satisfactory solutions in terms of the circular economy, such as black plastics
and heavily contaminated and mixed plastic waste. The plastics industry is also researchinginnovative technologies for the chemical recycling of plastic waste in various projects.

➢

Investing in circular raw materials and new material cycles
Innovations across the plastics value chain are presented almost daily. This allows more plastic waste
to be recycled and alternative raw materials to be used in plastics production.

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Sustainable product design, improved waste sorting technologies and diversified raw material
sources
Today's waste sorting processes cannot yet reliably distinguish between recyclable and nonrecyclable packaging. This is why R-Cycle documents packaging properties during production andmakes this data available to improve the sorting process at the end of the life cycle.

➢

Change recyclability and functions of plastic packaging
The industry is working intensively on using innovations to make previously non-recyclable packaging
increasingly recyclable or to achieve the same protective function with other plastic solutions, forexample mono-material instead of composite.

6 Potentials for cooperation
Both Germany and Japan still face similar problems: the amount of plastic waste has only slightly
decreased or stagnated over the past years. The impact of China's 2018 ban on plastic waste imports, thecommitment to global GHG emission reduction, and concerns about global marine pollution has put theissue on the top of the political agenda in both countries.
On the other hand, Germany and Japan have accumulated extensive experience and knowledge in politicalmeasures to reduce plastic waste, in plastic waste collection systems, recycling methods, and alternative
materials. Advanced technologies and mechanisms will be required. The business and technologicalcooperation potential for plastic recycling is significant. Especially advanced sorting technologies forindustrial and household wastes (e.g., identification and sorting technologies for the mechanical recyclingof black plastics) are needed.
By sharing experiences, best practices, industry insights, technical expertise, and R&D innovations, canaccelerate the reduction of plastic waste, the increase of recycling rates, and thus the reduction of GHG
emissions.

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7 References[01] Annual Report on the Environment, the Sound Material-Cycle Society and Biodiversity in Japan
2021, Ministry of the Environment (MoEJ), 2021
[02] Japan’s targets for GHG reduction, National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report, NIES, 2021
[03] Green Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050, Ministry of Economy, Tradeand Industry (METI), 2021
[04] The Plastic Resource Circulation Act, Ministry of the Environment, 2022
[05] Current status and challenges of domestic plastics recycling, Mizuho Research & Technologies, 2021
[06] New strategies for the circular economy, EU Commission, 2022
[07] New Outlook for Circular Plastics and Materials Market in 2022, Fuji Keizai Group, 2022
[08] Basic knowledge of plastic recycling, Japan Association for the Circulation and Re-Use of Plastics,
2023[09] Legal System for Forming a Recycling-Oriented Society, Ministry of Environment, 2022
[10] Act on Promotion of Resource Recycling Related to Plastics, Government of Japan, 2022
[11] An Introduction to Plastic Recycling, Plastic Waste Management Institute, 2022
[12] Domestic and International Situation Surrounding Plastics, Ministry of Environment, 2018[13] Status of Production, Disposal, Recycling, and Treatment and Disposal, Japan Association for the
Circulation and Re-Use of Plastics, 2022
[14] The contents of plastic waste, Plastic Waste Management Institute, 2023
[15] Flowchart of plastic waste recycling 2022, Plastic Waste Management Institute JAPAN (PMWI), 2022
[16] Recycling flow, Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association (JCPRA), 2023
[17] Results of the Recycling Industry Fact-finding Survey, METI & Ministry of the Environment, 2020[18] Breakdown of waste plastic emissions by sector and resin, Plastic Waste Management Institute,2022[19] Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz – KrWG, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation,
Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV)[20] Verpackungsgesetz - VerpackG, Umweltbundesamt[21] Kunststoffabfälle, Umweltbundesamt, 2023
[22] CO2-Emissionen durch Kunststoffe, NDR.de, 2022
[23] Aufkommen und Verbleib von Kunststoffabfällen in Deutschland 2021, Umweltbundesamt, 2023
[24] Stoffstrombild Kunststoffe in Deutschland 2021: Zahlen und Fakten zum Lebensweg von
Kunststoffen, Conversio Market & Strategy, 2021
[25] Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reductionof the impact of certain plastic products on the environment[26] 5-Punkte-Plan, BMUV, 2018[27] The circular economy package: new EU targets for recycling, EU parliament, 2018[28] Eckpunkte der Novellierung des Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetzes, Federal Ministry for the Environment,
Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV)ECOS GmbH

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Plastic Waste Recycling in Germany and Japan[29] “1,75 Mrd € in Kunststoffrecycling investiert”, E-Paper 13/2023, Euwid Recycling und Entsorgung[30] Recycling Recycling municipal waste , Umweltbundesamt[31] Politik für weniger Plastikmüll und mehr Recycling, BMUV[32] Dual Systems in Germany, Reclay Group[33] Umsetzung von Neuregelungen zur Statistik im europäischen Abfallrecht, BMUVECOS GmbH

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