PAPER RECYCLING IN JAPAN

April, 2024

Paper Recycling Promotion CenterTable of Contents
1 Definition of Recovered Paper ............................................................................................... 1
2 Sources and Types of Recovered Paper .................................................................................. 2
1) Types of Recovered Paper ................................................................................................. 2
2) Sources of Recovered Paper .............................................................................................. 33) Paper Collection and Role of Supplier .............................................................................. 3
3 Products from Recovered Paper ............................................................................................. 4
1) Recovered Paper as Raw Material for Paper Manufacture ................................................. 42) Use for Non-Paper-Items .................................................................................................. 5
4 Current State of Paper Collection ........................................................................................... 5
1) Recovery Rate .................................................................................................................. 52) Trends in Recovery Volumes and Recovery Rates ............................................................. 53) Upper Limit of Recovery Rate .......................................................................................... 65 Trends in Recovered Paper Consumption and Utilization Rates .............................................. 61) Utilization Rate ................................................................................................................ 62) Trends in Consumption Volumes and Utilization Rates ..................................................... 6
6 Recovery Volumes and Consumption Volumes ....................................................................... 7
1) Recovery Volumes Exceed Consumption Volumes ............................................................. 72) Exports of Recovered paper .............................................................................................. 8
7 Importance of Paper Separation ............................................................................................. 8
1) Why Paper Is Separated .................................................................................................... 82) Recovered Paper Quality Standards .................................................................................. 9
8 Recovered Paper Treatment Process ..................................................................................... 109 Supply and Quality of Recovered Paper ............................................................................... 11Paper Recycling Issues
1 Paper Recycling Efforts by Local Authorities and Citizens................................................... 12
2 Paper Recycling and the Environmental Problem ................................................................. 12
3 Recovered Paper vs. Wood Pulp ........................................................................................... 12
4 Paper Recycling at the Office ............................................................................................... 13
5 Legal Framework for Paper Recycling ................................................................................. 14
Appendix
Grouping and Major Grades of Recovered Paper ..................................................................... 15
Recovered Paper Quality Standards ........................................................................................ 16
Guidelines for sorted residential old paper and paperboard, and sorted office paper ................ 19
Paper Recycling Statistics in Japan ......................................................................................... 21

In 2023, Japan's total production of paper and paperboard produced 22.0 million tons, making
the country the third largest producer after China and the USA. Paper (Newsprint, Printing &communication paper, Wrapping paper, Sanitary paper, etc.) accounted for 47 % of the total (at10.4 million tons), while paperboard (Corrugated paper base, White paperboard, Patent coatedpaperboard, Building board, etc.) accounted for 53% (11.6 million tons).
Paper and paperboard are made from wood pulp and recovered paper. In 2023, use of recovered
paper for this purpose stood at 14.9 million tons, while use of wood pulp came to 7.4 million
tons.

1 Definition of Recovered Paper
The term of recovered paper generally refers to used paper recovered for use as raw material in
the manufacture of new paper and paperboard.
Under government notification (3 Consumer Goods Industries Bureaus Notification no.343,
December 24, 1991) issued pursuant to the Law for Promotion of Utilization of Recyclable
Resources (put into force on October 25, 1991), now the Law on the Promotion of Effective
Utilization of Resources (hereinafter “the Recycling Law”) ,recovered paper is defined as:Material that is known or believed to have value in use as an ingredient in the
production of paper, where such material comes from an article (such as
stationery, paper products, and books) that consists in whole or in part ofpaper and that has been used, or discarded, or collected unused (and inclusiveof such material imported into Japan following collection abroad).
But the law also specifically excludes from the definition…those materials generated during the process of paper production at paper making mills and operational sites operated by paper manufacturers, and also,
in case of processing at paper-making mills (including those processed byother business operators commissioned by paper manufacturers before
shipping products) and used by the paper manufacturers as paper stock
without being shipped as goods.

The Place of Recovered Paper in the Paper/Pulp Industry
Use of recovered paper as raw material for new paper is an important means for reducing
waste and effectively using resources, and is therefore of considerable social importance. In
2023, recovered paper (including pulp from recovered paper) accounted for 66.8% of the raw
material for production of new paper, making it the significant resource for paper
production.

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2 Sources and Types of Recovered Paper
1) Types of Recovered Paper
Recovered paper can be divided into two main categories, according to source: postconsumer recovered paper from residences, stores, and other such end users, and preconsumer recovered paper from paper processing sites. An intermediate category may also
be defined: commercial recovered paper, consisting of empty corrugated containers andother such material generated in large quantities by shopping malls, supermarkets, and othersuch businesses. The figure 1 shows the types and sources of recovered paper.

Sources of Recovered Paper

Residential

Recovered paper:

Postconsumer
Commercial

Material fromcollected usedpaper and paper
products that is
known or believed
to be usable as raw
material for paper
production.

City storefronts,
wholesalers, local markets,
stations, offices, exhibition
halls, shopping malls,
supermarkets, etc.

Pre-consumer
Cardboard and paperpackaging plants, printersand bookbinders, clothing
pattern cutters, publishers,
newspaper companies, etc.

Types of Recovered Paper

Old newspapers
Oldnewspaper

Newsprint (in cluding

inserts), remainders, etc.

Old magazines

Weeklies, monthlies , single
editions, phone books.
(including unsold returns.)

Old corrugatedcontainers

Corrugated containers and cuttingsfrom containers for electric
appliances , fibers, fruit andvegetables, etc.

Hard white shavings& white cards

Ink-free shavings andmisprints from high-quality
paperWhite woody
White woody
shavings,
shavings, white
white manila

Ink-free medium quality
paper; manila-board
shavings

Fine paper printed(incl. coated paper)

Inked high-quality paper,
paper food packaging, etc.

Printedpaper
Quireswoody
woody
quirespaper printed

Inked middle-grade
shavings and misprints
Shavings and waste from

Kraft browns

Boxboard cuttings

brown kraft sacks for cement,
fertilizer, etc.
Cuttings, misprinte, and recoveredmaterial from paperboard used forwhite cartons and similar paper
packaging.

Figure 1 Sources and Types of Recovered Paper

In The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Recovered Paper defines nine statisticalgroups that serve as general categories. It subdivided into 26 grades in Paper Recycling
Promotion Center (Source: Grouping and Major Grades of Recovered Paper).
Three categories—old newspaper, old magazines, and old corrugated containers—accountfor about 87% of all recovered paper. Pre-consumer paper recovered from printing andbookbinding plants, sheet cutting facilities, newspaper plants, and similar businesses isdivided into categories such as white shavings and cards, high-grade white wood-containing
shavings and white wood-containing shavings (high-grade white unprinted wood-free), andwhite ledger and color ledger (printed).

-2-2) Sources of Recovered Paper
As previously mentioned, recovered paper is generated by residences, offices, shopping
malls, grocery stores, printers and bookbinders, carton box and corrugated container
manufacturers, and other such sources. Throughout the world, recovered paper isgenerated from the following four sources.
①Residential
Single family and multi-family residences generate newspaper, magazines, corrugatedcontainers as well as sorted mixed paper.
②Office and institutional
Business offices generate copier paper, classified documents, shredded paper, newspaper aswell as magazines, etc.
③Commercial
Shopping malls, stations, local markets, and supermarkets, etc. generate large quantities ofcorrugated containers.
④Industrial
Paper processing concerns (printers, bookbinders, newspaper companies, and others)
generate shavings, misprints, and leftovers, etc.
3) Paper Collection and Role of SupplierSpecialized collectors collect paper from large-quantity sources, and then pass the paper to a
supplier* who can then deliver it to mills for use as raw material (Figure 2). Some suppliersalso undertake collection on their own. While recovered paper follows a variety of pathways
from its source, it ultimately lands in the hands of the supplier. The supplier weighs thepaper, presses it with a pressing machine into approximately 1-ton units, and sells it to mills.
The supplier is responsible not only for gathering the requisite quantities, but also for
ensuring that the delivered paper is of uniform quality and contains no constituents
unsuitable for reuse as raw material. Accordingly, the supplier must check quality whenpurchasing and shipping, and sort the recovered paper carefully prior to packaging it fordelivery.

Main Paper Recovery Pathway
SourcesSingle family & multi-family
residences(Residential)

Collection by local authorities
Scrap dealers
Group collections(Neighborhood asso., PTA,
local asso.,etc.)

Local shopping areas, officebuildings, train stations, etc.

Drop offs

Small-quantity (Commercial)(Public facilities, supermarkets,
etc)

Shopping malls, paper
packaging plants, printers,
bookbinders, publishers,
newspaper companies,etc.

Intermediateconcerns(or Agents)

Collectors
Specialized
collectors

ExportLarge-quantity (Industrial)*

Recovered
Paper
Suppliers *

Paper
Mills

Supplier refers to recovered paper dealers entitled to deliver recovered paper to paper making mills by
paper and paperboard manufacturers.

Figure 2 Paper Collection and Supplier-3-

3 Products from Recovered Paper
1) Recovered Paper as Raw Material for Paper Manufacture
The most prominent characteristic of paper recycling is that it converts paper back into newpaper. In 2023 Japan recovered about 17.2 million tons of paper, of which it exported about
2.2 million tons. The country also imported about 0.02 million tons. Domestic reuse, therefore,came to about 15.0 million tons. The collecting Recovered Paper of 99% was used as raw
material for new paper manufacture.
Recovered paper is suitable for producing a wide variety of papers and paperboards. Paper
uses include newsprint, magazines, printing paper, communication paper, and tissue paper.
Paperboard uses include boards for corrugated containers and paper containers (Figure3).
Recovered paper

Paper and paper board products

Old corrugatedcontainers

Liner andcorrugating
mediumKraft browns

Core paper

Cores and Tubes for aluminum
foil, toilet paper

Box board cuttings

Building board

Water resistant roofing bed
paper; Gypsum board

Old magazines

White paperboard

Boxes for food, sundries soap
etc.; Book coverings

Hard white shavings,
white cards

Newsprint

Newsprint

White woody
shavings,
white manila

Wrapping paper

Cement bags, Box pouches,
Handheld bags, and Envelopes

Cardboard cartons

Paperboard

Old newspaper

Paper
Quires woody
paper printed

Printing andcommunication
paper

Weekly magazines, Notebook
paper, Copier paper

Fine paper
printed

Sanitary paper

Tissue paper, Toilet paper(Non paper applications)

Note

Paper stock board, molded pulp products, cellulose fiber,
RPF(soild fuel), animal bedding, waste water treatment

Consumption: one million tons / year and over
Consumption: 100,000 tons / year and over
Consumption: 10,000 tons / year and overFigure 3 Products from Recovered paper-4-2) Use for Non-Paper-Items
The remaining 1% was used as raw material for producing non -paper items such as molded
pulp products, paper stock board, animal bedding, solid fuel, road paving and waste -water
treatment (where recovered paper is mixed with fibers to absorb moisture).

4 Current State of Paper Collection
1) Recovery Rate
The recovery rate can be defined as the total amount of P&PB (paper and paperboard)
recovered as a percentage of the total amount consumed RP (recovered paper) fiber. Within
this document, we use the term to refer exclusively to consumption and recovery within
Japan.
Amt recovered RP in Japan (Amt shipped RP to
manufacturers + Amt exported RP – Amt imported RP)

Recovery rate
(in Japan)

=

×100

Amt consumed P&PB in Japan (Amt sold P& PB by
manufacturers + Amt exported P&PB – Amt Imported P& PB)*includes shipments of pulp generated from recovered paper,
converted to corresponding paper amount.

2) Trends in Recovery Volumes and Recovery Rates◍Trends in recovery rates
Annual recovery volume has risen steadily since the 1980s and peaked in 2007 (23,325
thousand tons). Recovery volume has been decreasing with the decrease in paper
consumption, reaching 17,237 thousand tons in 2023.
Since 1980s the recovery rate increased from 46% to 50%, and remained stagnant at about
51% for the five-year period from 1992 to 1996, but then began a rapid and long-term rise as
recovery efforts were boosted by an increased awareness of environmental problems andresource recycling, and efforts by local authorities to reduce waste, with recovery outpacing
recovered paper supply and demand. Strong overseas demand for recovered paper also
contributed to the increase in the recovery rate. Paper and Paperboard consumption declined
due to the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in 2008, the earthquake in 2011, and the corona
crisis that began in 2020, but the recovery rate remained flat at around 80%, reaching a peakof 84.9% in 2020. In 2023, the recovery rate reached 81.6% (Figure4).
(%)('000t)45,00040,00084.9 81.6 90

79.7

Recovery volume

80

Recovery rate

35,00070

30,00060

23,32525,00050

20,00017,237 40

15,00030

10,000

20

5,000

10

0

0

'85

'87

'89

'91

'93

'95

'97

'99

'01

'03

'05

'07

'09

'11

Figure 4 Trends in Recovery Rates

-5-

'13

'15

'17

'19

'21

'23

◍Recovery Rates by Category
The 2023 recovery rate of pure old newspaper, discounting the large volume of advertisinginserts that are mixed in (estimated at 36% by weight), is calculated to have been about 86%.
Recovery of printing & communication paper, inclusive of the aforementioned advertisinginserts, was approximately 60%. Recovery of old corrugated container is estimated to havebeen about 98%, derived by discounting the published figures by about 17% to eliminate theimpact from the counting of corrugated container that entered the country as packaging forimported goods.
3) Upper Limit of Recovery Rate
It should be kept in mind that the denominator used to calculate the recovery rate (that is, thetotal quantity of paper consumed in Japan) includes non-recoverable and non-recyclable
items such as sanitary paper (tissue paper, etc.) and water -resistant and humidity-resistantprocessed papers. This fact effectively places an upper limit on the achievable rate. This
limit is provisionally calculated to be about 83% (in 2022, a rough calculation that includes
consideration of recovery of import/export packaging materials and of other potentiallyrelevant parameters).
In view of this upper limit, the current recovery rate appears to be very high and can beconsidered a very significant achievement.

5 Trends in Recovered Paper Consumption and Utilization Rates
1) Utilization Rate
The utilization rate for recovered paper can be defined as the volume of RP (recovered
paper) consumption in paper production as a percentage of the total volume of fiber
consumption as raw material for this purpose. Specifically;
Utilization rate
(in Japan)=

Amt of RP consumption and deinking pulp from RPthat is used in paper production

×100

Total fiber used in paper production (wood pulp +recovered paper + deinking pulp from RP + other fiber* )* Fiber that does not originate from wood pulp. Accounts forless than 1% of total figure used. Includes viscous staple
fiber, knot screen waste, manila fiber, mitsumata fiber, etc.

2) Trends in Consumption Volumes and Utilization Rates◍Trends in Utilization Rates
Annual consumption of recovered paper has been rising since the 1980s, peaked in 2007
(19,314 thousand tons). In 2009, paper and paperboard production decreased significantly
due to the impact by Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, and wastepaper consumption
decreased to around 17,000 thousand tons. After that, it remained flat, but since 2018, it has
been on a downward trend due to the effects of digitalization and the corona crisis .
Consumption of recovered paper has decreased to 1 4,920 thousand tons in 2023.
The utilization rate has been on the rise since the 1980s (with actual rates of 41.5% in 1980),
surpassing 50% in 1990 (51.5%) and 60% in 2003 (60.2%). Paper manufacturers and otherstakeholders have achieved the 2005’s utilization rates target of 60%, 2010 ’s target of 62%,
2015’s target of 64%, and 2020’s target of 65% set by the Recycling Law, as a result of theirefforts. The utilization rate target announced in April 2021 was set at 65 %, based on demand
forecasts for paper and paperboard.
However, since 2020, the production of paperboard with a high utilization rate has exceededthat of paper with a low utilization rate, and the recovered paper utilization rate has beenraised, reaching 66.8% in 2023. (Figure5).

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('000t)(%)

45,00090

Consumption volumes

40,00080

Utilization rate

35,00030,00064.3

62.5

60.2 60.3

67.2 66.8

70
60

51.5

25,00050

19,31420,00014,92040

15,00030

10,000

20

5,000

10

0

0
'85

'87

'89

'91

'93

'95

'97

'99

'01

'03

'05

'07

'09

'11

'13

'15

'17

'19

'21

'23

Figure 5 Trends in Utilization Rates◍Utilization Rates for Paper and Paperboard
In 2023, the utilization rates of recovered paper in paper manufacture stood at 34.9%, while
the rate in paperboard manufacture reached 93.6%. The utilization rate of paper manufacture
in will gradually decrease due to the decrease in production of newsprint, which uses a highpercentage of recovered paper. The utilization of paperboard manufacture is nearing its limit,
and the utilization rate is expected to remain flat. On the other hand, the ratio of paperboard
in the production of paper and paperboard is increasing. As a result, it is expected that theoverall the utilization rate of recovered paper will gradually increase depending on theutilization rate of paperboard manufacture.

6 Recovery Volumes and Consumption Volumes
1) Recovery Volumes Exceed Consumption Volumes
Collection and supply of recovered paper had been driven up by increased awareness ofenvironmental problems, stronger interest in recycling, and constant efforts by local
authorities to reduce waste. As a result, supply has exceeded demand.
In 2023, the recovery Volumes was 17,237 thousand tons, and the Consumption Volumes was
14,920 thousand tons. The difference is 2,317 thousand tons, which greatly exceeds the amountof recovered paper consumption. Table 1 shows figures since 2013.

year
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Table 1 Trends in Recovery Rates and Utilization Rates
Recovery Volumes
Consumption Volumes
Difference（‘000 tons）（‘000 tons）（‘000 tons）
21,864
16,933
4,931
21,75017,091
4,659
21,401
16,984
4,417
21,233
17,031
4,202
21,047
17,114
3,933
20,673
16,957
3,716
19,794
16,521
3,273
18,87815,7083,170
18,456
16,044
2,412
17,886
15,947
1,939
17,237
14,9202,317-7-2) Exports of Recovered paper
Exports of recovered paper exceeded 1 million tons for the first time in 2001. Exports havebeen growing ever since and peaked in 2012 (4,924 thousand tons). After that, it decreased,
and it was 2,224 thousand tons in 2023.
As of 2023, the ratio of recovered paper exports is 12.9%. The recovered paper supply anddemand balance in Japan is maintained through recovered paper exports, but dependence on
exports is declining.
The table 2 shows yearly export volumes for each year since 2013, both by weight and as apercentage of total recovered paper volume in Japan for that year.
Table 2 Trends in Recovered Paper Export

Year

Exported Recovered
Paper (‘000 tons)

Recovery volume(‘000 tons)

As Share of Recovery
volume (%)

2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

4,890
4,619
4,261
4,138
3,734
3,779
3,141
3,188
2,365
1,833
2,224

21,86421,75021,401
21,23321,047
20,673
19,794
18,87818,456
17,886
17,237

22.4
21.2
19.9
19.5
17.7
18.3
15.9
16.9
12.8
10.2
12.9

7 Importance of Paper Separation
1) Why Paper Is Separated
A noteworthy characteristic of paper recycling is that each type of paper tends to have its own
specific destination: old newspaper are mainly turned into new newsprint; old corrugatedcontainers become input for new corrugated containers (cardboard boxes); old magazines areturned into paper boxes; computer paper and copier paper are processed into new printing &copier paper; and so on. This in turn suggests how important it is to separate paper correctly
at a source, and to remove any prohibitive materials that may interfere with subsequent
processing. Such prohibitive materials include not only foreign matters such as metals andcloth, but also any paper that has plastic film or adhesive tape attached to it. The prohibitive
materials refer to all non-paper materials as well as those paper materials that are unsuitablefor paper recycling (Figure 6).
Table 3 Troubles from Prohibitive Materials

Troubles in processing and production control◍ Damage to facilities◍ Increased burden for cleaning andmaintenance because of clogged screensand dirt in places in the process (adhesive
substances, etc.)◍ Unusable for paper stock, increasing theamount of waste-8-

Troubles in product quality◍ Poor appearance (dust, specks, glittering,holes, uneven surface, low whiteness level,
poor color, etc.)◍ Odor (other than paper odor) adherence2) Recovered Paper Quality Standards
The Paper Recycling Promotion Center ’s Recovered Paper Quality Standards define two typesof contaminants, types A and B, as outlined.
Type A contamination consists of prohibitive material (unattached non -paper objects) as wellas any mixed-in material that may significantly interfere with new paper manufacture.
Specifically, this category includes items such as: stones, glass, metal, plastic, cloth, thermal
foaming coated paper (paper that incorporates foam that expands in response to heat togenerate a patterned surface), textile printing paper, perfumed paper and synthetic paper
including stone paper(technically not “paper,” as it is made of plastic and mineral). Type B
contamination consists of material that should preferably be excluded from raw production
material: items such as carbon paper, carbonless copy paper, laminated paper, adhesive tape,thermal paper.

Prohivitives ! (Items to be removed from recovered paper.)

Paper
Envelopes with adhered stickers, plastic-coated paper, wax
paper, oiled paper, photos, synthetic paper, processedwater-resistant paper, thermal paper (fax paper), textile
printing paper (dye-sublimation paper...for ironprinting,etc), thermal foaming coated paper, carbon-backed
paper, carbonless copy paper

Non-Paper
Adhesive ta pe, stickers, meta l pieces onfolders, meta l clips, film, polystyrene
foa m, cell phone, pla stic items, gla ss
items, cloth, etc.

Figure 6

Prohibitive Materials-9-8 Recovered Paper Treatment Process
The basic treatment processes in recycling recovered paper into recovered pulp are: defibering,
dust removal, dispersing, deinking, bleaching, washing and drainage. Because paperboard mills
do not have to make pulp white, they usually do not have the ability to conduct the dispersing,
deinking, and bleaching processes. In these processes, the following treatments are carried out.
1) Defibering
Recovered paper is thrown into water and stirred. Then recovered
paper is defibered by kneading. At the same time, large foreign objects
are removed. This is carried out in a device called a pulper (Figure 7).
2) Dust removal
Foreign particles (dust) in recovered paper are
Figure 7 Pulper
removed by a cleaner and a screen (Figures
8,9,10). The cleaner uses centrifugal force toremove stones, sand, and metal that are heavier than the recovered fiber.
The screen uses its slits or round holes to remove foreign objects that arelarger than recovered fiber.

Figure 8 Cleaner

Figure 9 Screen A

Figure 10 Screen B

3) Dispersing
By strongly kneading recovered fiber, the ink, adhesives, andother foreign objects are peeled off the recovered fiber. At thesame time, these foreign objects are broken down to a size
indiscernible to the naked eye and dispersed. This is carried out
in a device called a kneader or a disperser (Figure 11).
4) Deinking
Detergent is added to the recovered fiber and air bubbles areblown in. These bubbles adhere to the ink and float. By removing
these bubbles, the ink is removed. This is carried out in a device
called a flotator (Figure 12).

5) Bleaching
Recovered fiber is turned white with ableaching agent such as hydrogen peroxide(Figure 13).

Figure 11 Kneader, Disperser

Figure1213 Flotator

Figure13
12 Bleaching Tower

6) Washing and drainage
By repeated rinsing and drainage, fineforeign objects are removed. This is carriedout in a device called a washer (Figure 14).
Figure 14 Washer- 10 -

9 Supply and Quality of Recovered Paper
Since recovered paper is generated as waste at a wide variety of indeterminate sources andvariable amounts and qualities, paper manufacturers may find it somewhat less reliable in termsof quality and supply than wood pulp, which is produced specifically for use as a raw material(Table 4). For recovered paper to serve effectively as a raw material, the following conditions
should hold.
①Recovered paper must be assembled into units suitable for delivery to and handling at theyard (Figure 15).
②Assembled units must offer uniform quality (must consist of the uniform grade).
③It must be possible to maintain a stable quantity of supply.

Reference: After recovered paper has been
fully sorted, the recycler presses each type into
units suitable for transport by truck to thepaper mill. The unit size is approximately 1m(H)×1m (W)×1.8m (L). Each unit weighsapproximately 1 ton.

Figure 15 Pressed Recovered Paper

Table 4 Supply and Quality Characteristics

Items

SupplyQuality

Characteristics◍ As the generated supply and the manufacturer demand bothvary, supply and demand are subject to imbalance.
◍ Supply tends to peak in December and to drop to a low inJanuary and February.
◍ Demand is affected by current production levels of paper andboard products.
◍ Initial separation at the collection source has an important
impact on ultimate quality as a raw material.
◍ Subsequent rounds of sorting during the distribution stage are
required to reach the quality required for use as a raw material.

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～Paper Recycling Issues～
1 Paper Recycling Efforts by Local Authorities and Citizens
We do not have data showing separate recovery and utilization rates by residences, offices,
local authorities, and the government. It is known, however, that the government and local
authorities are making considerable progress in raising their recovery rates and their use ofrecovered-paper products.
For example, in a 2023 survey by the Paper Recycling Promotion Center, all responding
prefectures and local authorities indicated that they were carrying out separate collection ofrecovered paper.
The Green Procurement Law passed in April 2003 obligates the government to use recovered paper products, and local authorities are obliged to make an effort to use such products.

2 Paper Recycling and the Environmental Problems
Environmental issues, and in particular the appropriate handling of waste, are particularly
important concerns in Japan. These issues merit attention and cooperation from all members ofsociety. The country’s Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law establishes a basis fordeveloping measures for managing waste. While people have long known that recovered paper
can be recycled, they are often less aware that inappropriate handling of such paper can turn it
into waste. Accordingly, it is necessary to educate and gain cooperation from all paper users—
residences, offices, industrial users, and so on. Effective recycling is also important in terms ofprotecting forest resources and reducing energy use. For this reason, the government and local
authorities are tasked with developing systems, application technologies, and distribution
methods that support effective recycling.
The relationship between paper recycling and the carbon dioxide it produces is a little
complicated. Wood fiber is largely divided into mechanical pulp, which is made from woodchips by mechanical force, and chemical pulp, which is made using chemicals. Us ing recovered
fiber, compared with using Wood fiber (mechanical pulp and chemical pulp) can reduce thetotal amount of carbon dioxide produced, which is the total of carbon dioxide from biomass
fuel, waste fuel and fossil fuel. However, chemical pulp produ ces less carbon dioxide fromfossil fuel because black liquor can be used as energy of biomass fuel. Black liquor’s main
ingredient is lignin, which is separated and extracted from wood chips with chemicals.
Therefore, chemical pulp produces less carbon dioxide from fossil fuel than recovered fiberdoes.
To avoid increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, it is also important to promote themetabolism of planted trees and to try not to lose accumulated carbon storage in forests.

3 Recovered Paper vs. Wood Pulp
As the base for paper stock, there is wood fiber and recovered fiber. Recovered fiber isweakened each time paper is recycled. The use of wood fiber is effective to compensate for thisweakening. For this reason as well it is necessary to use a certain amount of wood fiber as araw material for paper and paperboard. However, which paper and paperboard products use
wood fiber and how much of it to mix in should be considered carefully in terms ofenvironmental implications as well as product quality. A good balance with the use ofrecovered fiber is desirable.
The wood chips used for pulp material are mostly from scrap wood from furniture and housingmaterials, or low-quality wood and thinning-out trees from natural or artificial forests.
Therefore, even wood fiber is an effective use of forest resources.

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4 Paper Recycling at the Office1) Major challenges for paper recycling at the office① Shredded paper and Sorted office paper
It was revealed that recovery rates are higher than 90% for newspaper, magazines, andcorrugated containers, but lower than 70% for Shredded paper and Sorted office paper.
② Recovered paper from small offices
The recovery rates for Shredded paper, Sorted office paper and Confidential document aresmall low at offices with few employees.
2) Sorted office paper recycling
Sorted Office paper is recyclable paper and paper products other than newspapers,
magazines, and cardboard generated from business establishments. It mainly consists ofunbound black and color printed materials, used copy paper, flyers, business cards,
envelopes, wrapping paper, paper bags, etc.
Check with your recycler or building management company to see if they can collect office
paper, and if so, secure a place for employees to discharge it, and post a sign around the area
so that employees know what types of paper qualify as office paper and what types of paper
are not suitable for recycling. Doing so will promote office paper recycling!
3) Shredded paper recycling
If well separated, shredded paper can be treated as ordinary recovered paper. However, if it
is not well separated, shredded paper needs to be treated in a paper mill with facilities fortreating difficult-to-defiberize-paper.
Therefore, shredded paper is not used at all paper mills . It is difficult to recycle shredded
paper in areas where there are no recovered paper wholesalers or recovered paper collectors
with distribution routes to those mills.
Outsourcing the destruction of confidential documents without shredding is also one of themethods of resource recovery.
4) Confidential document destruction
Protection of corporate confidential information is very important in avoiding corporate risk.
Confidential information must be securely erase, there are two processing methods, internal
shredder processing and external consignment processing.
When outsourcing confidential document destruction, it is vital that a processing company
that is fully equipped with security measures conducts it.
There are three main methods of processing confidential documents when outsourcing.
① Mobile shredding
In this method, a vehicle equipped with a shredding machine visits the office and deletes theconfidentiality law onsite.
Entry and exit of the vehicle is managed, remove prohibitives in the vehicle, and shredconfidential documents.
② Stationary shredding
Collection haulers and processing companies collect confidential documents from businessestablishments, transport them to grinding facilities, and delete confidential information. In
the treatment process, there are cases where it is crushed after sorting and crushed byunopened.
③ Direct defibering
It is a method to input confidential documents to the pulper at a paper mill or the like.
It is called "direct melting" or "unopened dissolving".
Since it is thrown directly into the pulper, it is a premise to remove foreign matter s.

- 13 -

5 Legal Framework for Paper Recycling
Since the 1991 establishment of the Law for the Promotion of Utilization of Recycled
Resources, we have seen ongoing efforts to reduce waste and to promote recycling. These
efforts and experiences have gradually led to a more uniform and comprehensive policy, and to
the development of our current legal framework as outlined Figure 16. There are now broadbased efforts underway to pursue the 3 Rs (reduction, reuse, and recycling).
・Establish recycling as a societal practice.
・Reduce consumption of natural resources.
・Reduce environmental load.

Fundamental Law for Establishing a Recycling
Oriented Society (Basic Framework Law)
○ Principles
and citizens○ Responsibilities of govt, local authorities, businesse,○ National policy

Basic Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society : Basis for other national plans

Promotion of the 3 Rs

Appropriate Waste Management

Establishment of General Framework
Law for the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources

Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law① Reducing waste arisings① Recycling of recyclable resources② Appropriate waste disposal (include recycling)② Adopting recyclable designs and materials③ Regulations for establishing waste treatment③ Labeling and displays to support waste sorting

facilities④ Regulations covering waste management companies⑤ Setting of the waste management standard④ Effective use of byproducts

Laws and Regulations by Product Type
Waste Containers &Packaging Recycling
Law

Electric Appliance
Recycling Law

Food Recycling
Law

Construction
Construction
Construction
Materials
Materials
Materials
RecyclingLaw
Law
Recycling
Law
Recycling

Automobile
Automobile
Recycling
Recycling
Law
Law

SmallElectricElectric
Small
Appliance
Appliance
RecyclingLaw
Law
Recycling

Full enforcement 4/’00

Full enforcement 4/’01

Full enforcement 5/’01

Full enforcement 5/’02

Full enforcement 1/’05

Full
Full enforcement
enforcement 4/’13
4/’13

・ Municipal collectionof containers &packaging・ Recommercialization
by manufacturers
and others

・Collection
Collection ofof・Discarded appliances
appliances
discardedby retailers
retailersby・Recommercialization
Recommercialization
・
by manufacturers
manufacturers
byand others
othersandDemolition&and・･ Demolition
sortingofofsortingconstruction
construction
materials
bymaterials
contractors
by contructors
・ Recyclingof･Recycling of waste
construction
construction
materials

・ Collection andrecycling of used car
parts by car
manufacturers kers
and importers･ Recycling of air bags,
Shredder dust anddestruction of CFC

・ Recycling of small
electric appliancesby authorized
manufacturers

・Recycling
Recyclingof
offoodfood・waste byby
Waste
manufacturers ,Manufacturer,
processors,andandprocessors
sellers
retailers

Act on Promoting Green Procurement
Full enforcement 4/’01

Figure 16 Legal Framework for Promoting a Recycling Oriented Society
Source: METI, ”Resource Recycling Handbook 2022: Legal framework and 3Rs,” 2023

Selected References
1 Paper Recycling Promotion Center, Survey Report on Recovered Paper Use and Environmental
Impact, March 2001.
2 Paper Recycling Promotion Center, The 2023 Handbook of Recovered Paper, July 2023.
3 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, “Revision in recovered paper utilization rate targets withrespect to the paper manufacturing industry”; public commentary, 2019.
4 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, “Monthly statistics for paper, print, plastic, and rubber
products.”
5 Ministry of Finance, “Monthly trade report.”- 14 -

Appendix
Grouping and Major Grades of Recovered Paper
Paper Recycling Promotion Center
Enacted: March 1979
Revised: June 5, 2000
Revised: Sept. 30, 2004
Revised: Sept. 29, 2008
Revised: April 22, 2010
Revised: Jan. 29, 2015
Revised: May. 26, 2016

StatisticalGroup
Hard whiteshavings,
white cards

White woody
shavings,
white manilaNo.
1White shavings

2

Cream shavings

3

Ruled-paper shavings

4
5
6
7
8

Fine paper
printed(incl. coatedpaper)

Grade

9

High-grade white woodcontaining shavings
White woodcontaining shavings
White ledger
Color ledger
Wood-free shavings withpartial color print
Coated white shavings

10 Fliers
11 Beverage paper carton
12 Sorted office paper

Quireswoody paper
printedHigh-grade color-printed
wood-containing shavings
Color-printed wood14
containing shavings
High-grade wood15
containing wasteOld
newspaper

16 Old newspaperOld
magazines

17 Old magazines

13

18

Kraft browns

19
20

Old
corrugatedcontainers

21
22
23

Box board
cuttings

New brown kraft cuttings,
unprinted brown kraft
Used brown kraft sacks
Kraft lined corrugatedcontainer
Old corrugated container
New Double-lined kraft
corrugated cuttings
Mill wrapper

Description
Shavings or sheets of white unprinted wood-free paper collected frombookbinders, printers, and sheet cutting facilities.
Shavings or sheets of cream-colored unprinted wood-free paper
collected from bookbinders, printers, and sheet cutting facilities.
Shavings or sheets of white or cream-colored unprinted wood-free paperwith red or blue ruling or register marks, collected from bookbinders,
printers, and sheet cutting facilities.
Shavings or sheets of white unprinted high-grade wood-containing paper
collected from bookbinders, printers, and sheet cutting facilities.
Shavings or sheets of white unprinted groundwood paper collected frombookbinders, printers, and newspaper printing plants.
White wood-free paper printed with black ink.
White wood-free uncoated or coated paper printed in color.
Shavings of white uncoated or coated wood -free paper, some of whichis color printed, collected from bookbinders and printers.
Shavings or sheets of unprinted coated paper collected from bookbinders
and printers.
high-grade wood-containing white paper, etc.
Washed used household beverage paper cartons, and shavings and sheetsof industrially generated beverage paper carton board, with no aluminum
content.
Paper and paper products from businesses, consisting primarily of loose
black-printed or color-printed paper and copier paper.
Shavings of high-grade wood-containing white paper printed in various
colors, collected from bookbinders and printers.
Shavings of groundwood paper printed in various colors, collected frombookbinders and printers.
Sheets of high-grade wood-containing paper, black-printed or colorprinted, and groundwood paper collected from bookbinders and printers.
Old newspapers and Inserts collected from residences, businesses,
public offices, etc.
Bound papers such as magazines, books, returned and remainderedbooks, user's manuals (including brochures), and booklets (pamphlet,
catalogues and guidebooks, etc.) collected from residences, businesses,
and public offices, etc.
Cuttings and sheets of unprinted brown kraft paper collected from kraft
paper sack factories.
Used brown kraft sacks for rice, wheat, etc.
Kraft corrugated cuttings and old kraft corrugated containers(Comprised mainly of imports), Unbleached six pack beer carrier, etc.
Old corrugated containers collected from businesses, residences, etc.
New corrugated cuttings and sheets from packaging products factories.

Used wrapping for paper and paperboard.
Cuttings and die cuttings of white paperboard, chipboard, etc. collected
24 White paperboard cuttingsfrom carton makers.
25 Chipboard cuttings(Carton) Old cartons from businesses, etc.
Paper, paperboard, and products thereof, collected from residences,
Sorted residential old
26
exclusive of (separated from) old newspaper, old magazines, oldpaper and paperboard
corrugated containers and milk cartons.

Recovered Paper Quality Standards (Five Grades)- 15 -

Paper Recycling Promotion Center
Enacted: Jan. 27, 1986
Revised: Jun. 15, 2000
Revised: May 25, 2005
Revised: Nov. 29, 2006
Revised: March 17, 2009
Revised: Feb. 24, 2011
Revised: Sept. 21, 2012
Revised: May. 26, 2016
Revised: Aug. 3, 2016

I. Standards
1. Scope of application
The standards set forth hereinafter refers to the quality standards of recovered papers including Old
newspaper, Old corrugated containers, Old magazines, Sorted residential old paper and paperboard, andSorted office paper (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Recovered Papers”), which is to be traded. The
trades of Recovered Papers shall be conducted by abiding by the standards contained herein unless otherwise
agreed by buyers and sellers.
Under these standards, Old newspaper, Old corrugated containers, Old magazines, Sorted residential oldpaper and paperboard, and Sorted office paper refer to the following type of paper.
◍ The Old newspaper refer to the newspaper (including inserted flyers) and over-issue newspaper, generated
by residences, businesses, public offices, etc.
◍ The Old corrugated containers refer to those generated by paperboard and paper container plants,
residences and businesses, etc.
◍ The Old magazines refer to bound papers such as magazines, books, returned and remaindered books,
user's manuals (including brochures), and booklets (pamphlet, catalogues and guidebooks, etc.) collectedfrom residences, businesses, and public offices, etc.
◍ The Sorted residential old paper and paperboard2 refer to the papers, paper boards, and the products madeof them, which are not classified as Old newspaper, Old corrugated containers, Old magazines or Beverage
paper carton.
◍ The Sorted office paper refer to the papers and paper products generated by businesses, including unbound,color- or ink-printed matters and used copier papers
2. Quality
The qualities of Recovered Papers shall be as defined in II. “Recovered Paper Quality Standards.” The
materials meeting the “Waste Paper Quality Standards” shall be referred to as standard materials.
3. Prohibitive materials
The prohibitive materials shall be classified into the categories A (A -1 and A-2) and B as shown below.
Category A: The foreign substances or other substances which are irrelevant to the raw materials for paper
manufacturing and may cause serious troubles if they are mixed with the raw material aslisted below.
A-1 Items other than paper products
1) Stone, glass, metal materials (incl. tools, machine parts, etc.), earth and sand, wood pieces, cloths,
plastics, etc.
2) Synthetic paper and stone paper (technically not “paper”, as it is made of plastic and mineral)
3) Nonwoven fabric (surgical mask, disposable wet towel. etc.)
4) Disposable diaper, sanitary napkin, sheet for pet, etc. (incl. unused items)
5) Those which may significantly damage other paper manufacturing processes or products
A-2 Items which can’t be used for paper manufacturing although those are paper products
1) Aromatic paper, perfumed paper (wrapping paper, paper box, corrugated container for detergent, soap,
incense, etc.)
2) Cushioning material for bag, shoes, etc. (used dye -sublimation papers are often reused as cushioning
material)
3) Dye-sublimation paper (textile printing paper, iron-printed papers, mainly paper that is heated to print
a design on fabric)- 16 -

4) Thermo-sensitive foaming coated papers (where heat causes paper to rise; mainly used for printing ofBraille)5) Waxed corrugated container (eg. corrugated containers for fruit and vegetable, processed sea foods,
etc.)6) Food-stained paper7) Stained paper (paper that has had oil spilled on it, used tissues and paper towels, paper stained with
pet excrement, etc.)
8) Papers which may have come into contact with infectious waste in medical facilities and otherfacilities
9) Other items which bring extreme damage for paper manufacturing process or paper products
Category B: Items which may bring unfavorable influences for paper manufacturing if they are mixed withthe raw materials as listed below.
1) Paper stamped with metallic (gold, silver, etc.) leaf
2) Paper used as building materials such as plaster boards, tarpaulin papers, etc.
3) Sealed postcards (confidential postcards, etc.)
4) Seals, adhesive tapes, etc. (in case of old corrugated containers, adhesive tapes aren't classified asprohibitive materials)
5) Water-resistant processed paper (paper cups, paper plates, paper instant -ramen containers, paper
yogurtcontainers, etc.)
6) Resin-coated papers made of plastics, polyethylene, aluminum and laminated papers
7) Resin-impregnated papers, parchment papers, waxed papers
8) Photo print paper (photo, inkjet photo printing sheets, album)9) Carbon paper, carbonless paper (package/parcel delivery service forms, etc.)
10) Thermal papers (fax paper, receipt, etc.)
11) Colored paper (excl. judgmental criteria A and B) ※12) Commodity samples (shampoo, cosmetics, etc.) accompanying insert in newspapers,
magazines and catalogs
13) Other items (papers made of composite material, etc.) which are unsuitable for consumption
as raw materials for paper manufacturing※ Paper manufacturers rank colored papers based on recyclability judgmental criteria. Refer to home
pages of paper manufacturers.
4. Packing and wrapping styles
In principle, the standard materials shall be press-packed. The prohibitive materials shall not be used forwrapping. However, the strings, iron wires, etc. used for packing shall be excluded.
5. Indications
The standard materials shall have the indications identified by buyers and sellers.
6. Non-standard materials
The materials which have deteriorated, sunburned or contaminated with soil or rust, those containing
moisture or prohibitive materials, other outthrows or those whose wrapping style does not meet the standards
shall be referred to as non-standard materials.
7. Sorted materials
Those sorted in order to meet the conditions stricter than those contained herein shall be referred to assorted materials.

- 17 -

II. Waste Paper Standard Quality Standards
1. Old newspaper
1) Mixing of prohibitive materials(1) Prohibitive material category A ... Not allowable.
(2) Prohibitive material category B ... In principle, it is not allowable. However, the following
value may not be exceeded even if it is unavoidable . ……………………………………………0.3%
2) If any grades other than Old newspaper (excluding inserted flyers) are mixed, the following
value may not be exceeded. …………………………………………………………………………… 1%
3) The moisture content may not be exceeded as shown on the right . ………………………………… 12%
2. Old corrugated containers
1) Mixing of prohibitive materials(1) Prohibitive material category A ... Not allowable.
(2) Prohibitive material category B ... In principle, it is not allowable. However, the following
value may not be exceeded even if it is unavoidable. …………… ……………………………… 0.3%
2) If any grades other than Old corrugated containers are mixed, the following value may not
be exceeded. …………………………………………………………………………………………… 3%3) The moisture content may not be exceeded as shown on the right . ………………………………… 12%
3. Old magazines
1) Mixing of prohibitive materials(1) Prohibitive material category A ... Not allowable.
(2) Prohibitive material category B ... In principle, it is not allowable. However, the following
value may not be exceeded even if it is unavoidable. …………… …………………………… 0.5%
2) If any grades other than Old magazines are mixed, the following value may not be exceeded .
………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5%3) The moisture content may not be exceeded as shown on the right. ……………………………… 12%
4. Sorted residential old paper and paperboard
1) Mixing of prohibitive materials(1) Prohibitive material category A ... Not allowable.
(2) Prohibitive material category B ... In principle, it is not allowable. However, the following
value may not be exceeded even if it is unavoidable. …………… …………………………… 0.5%
2) The moisture content may not be exceeded is as shown on the right. …………………………… 12%
5. Sorted office paper
1) Mixing of prohibitive materials(1) Prohibitive material category A ... Not allowable.
(2) Prohibitive material category B ... In principle, it is not allowable. However, the following
value may not be exceeded even if it is unavoidable. …………………… …………………… 0.5%
2) The moisture content may not be exceeded as shown on the right. ……………………………… 12%- 18 -

Guidelines for Sorted residential old paper and paperboard, and Sorted office paper
Paper Recycling Promotion Center
Enacted: May 25, 2005
Revised: Feb. 24, 2011
Revised: Sept. 21, 2012
Revised: May. 26, 2016

Overview
These guidelines present information essential for proper separation of recovered paper falling into thecategories of Sorted residential old paper and paperboard, and Sorted office paper. It is assumed that issues
not covered herein shall be worked out through mutual agreement of generator and collector.
Handling of shredded paper shall be decided through mutual agreement of generator and collector.
1 Sorted residential old paper and paperboard(1) Content
Sorted residential old paper and paperboard denotes paper and paperboard, and products thereof,
generated by residences, and not separable into categories of old newspaper (including inserted flyers), oldmagazines, old corrugated container, and Beverage paper carton. In general, Sorted residential old paper andpaperboard consists of items such as discarded loose fliers, copier paper, wrapping paper, paper bags, andpaper boxes.
(2) Items not to be included in Sorted residential old paper and paperboard◍ Water-resistant processed paper (paper cups, paper plates, paper instant -ramen containers,
paper yogurt containers)◍ Carbon paper, carbonless paper (package/parcel delivery service forms, etc.)◍ Sealed postcards (confidential postcards)◍ Seals, adhesive tapes, etc.
◍ Thermal papers (fax paper, receipts, etc.)◍ Colored paper (excl. judgmental criteria A and B)※◍ Photo print paper (photo, inkjet photo printing sheets; album)◍ Commodity samples (shampoo, cosmetics, etc.)accompanying insert in newspapers,
magazines and catalogs◍ Paper compounded with plastic film, aluminum leaf, etc.
◍ Paper stamped with metallic (gold, silver, etc.) leaf
◍ Nonwoven fabric (surgical mask, disposable wet towel, etc.)◍ Aromatic paper, perfumed paper （ wrapping paper, paper box, corrugated container for
detergent, soap, incense, etc.）◍ Cushioning material for bag, shoes, etc.（used dye-sublimation papers are often reused ascushioning material）◍ Dye-sublimation paper (textile printing paper, mainly paper that is heated to print a design
on fabric)◍ Thermo-sensitive foaming coated papers (where heat causes paper to rise; mainly used forprinting of Braille)◍ Synthetic paper and stone paper (technically not “paper,” as it is made of plastic andmineral)◍ Food-stained paper◍ Stained paper (paper that has had oil spilled on it, used tissues and paper towels, paper
stained with pet excrement, etc.)◍ Any other paper that is unsuitable for use as raw material for new paper manufacture※ Paper manufacturers rank colored papers based on recyclability judgmental criteria. Refer to home
pages of paper manufacturers.

(3) Steps to take prior to discharging Sorted residential old paper and paperboard◍ Remove any attached stickers from postcards and envelopes.
◍ Remove any attached plastic film from paper (for example, plastic film at outlet of tissue boxes and overaddress windows of envelopes).
◍ Where plastic film is adhered to the cover of magazine, remove the corresponding part of the cover.
- 19 -

◍ Remove all metal and plastic from folders, binders, etc.
◍ Remove all adhesive tape from paper and paper boxes.
(4) Tying Sorted residential old paper and paperboard for discharge
Paper and paperboard should be arranged into groups according to size (with small items set into paperbags), and groupings tied crosswise with paper cord or similar material.
2 Sorted office paper(1) Content
Sorted office paper denotes paper and paper products from businesses, consisting principally of loose
black-printed and color-printed matter and copier paper. In general, the term refers to discarded office items
such as copier paper, paper slips, business cards, envelopes, wrapping paper, and paper bags.
(2) Items not to be included in Sorted office paper◍ Water-resistant processed paper (paper cups, paper plates, paper instant -ramen containers,
paper yogurt containers)◍ Carbon paper, carbonless paper (package/parcel delivery service forms, etc.)◍ Sealed postcards (confidential postcards)◍ Seals, adhesive tapes, etc.
◍ Thermal papers (fax paper, receipts, etc.)◍ Colored paper (excl. judgmental criteria A and B)※◍ Photo print paper (photo, inkjet photo printing sheets; album)◍ Commodity samples (shampoo, cosmetics, etc.)accompanying insert in newspapers,
magazines and catalogs◍ Paper compounded with plastic film, aluminum leaf, etc.
◍ Paper stamped with metallic (gold, silver, etc.) leaf
◍ Nonwoven fabric (surgical mask, disposable wet towel, etc.)◍ Aromatic paper, perfumed paper （ wrapping paper, paper box, corrugated container for
detergent, soap, incense, etc.）◍ Cushioning material for bag, shoes, etc.（used dye-sublimation papers are often reused ascushioning material）◍ Dye-sublimation paper (textile printing paper, mainly paper that is heated to print a design
on fabric)◍ Thermo-sensitive foaming coated papers (where heat causes paper to rise; mainly used forprinting of Braille)◍ Synthetic paper and stone paper (technically not “paper,” as it is made of plastic andmineral)◍ Food-stained paper◍ Stained paper (paper that has had oil spilled on it, used tissues and paper towels, paper
stained with pet excrement, etc.)◍ Any other paper that is unsuitable for use as raw material for new paper manufacture※ Paper manufacturers rank colored papers based on recyclability judgmental criteria. Refer to home
pages of paper manufacturers.

(3) Steps to take prior to discharging Sorted office paper◍ Remove any attached stickers from postcards and envelopes.
◍ Remove any attached plastic film from paper (for example, plastic film at outlet of tissue boxes and overaddress windows of envelopes).
◍ Where plastic film is adhered to the cover of magazine, remove the corresponding part of the cover.
◍ Remove all metal and plastic from folders, binders, etc.
◍ Remove all adhesive tape from paper and paper boxes.
(4) Tying Sorted office paper for discharge
Paper and paperboard should be arranged into groups according to size, and groupings tied crosswise withpaper cord or similar material.
(5) Handling of paper that has been through a shredder
Handling of shredded paper shall be decided through mutual agreement of generator and collector.
- 20 -

Paper Recycling Statistics in Japan
1 Trends in paper and paperboard production

30,000Total('000t)27,50026,479 26,228

26,27526,512

26,056Paper

Paperboard

25,401

25,00022,50022,86920,00017,50015,11914,83015,00014,706 14,581

14,00813,502

12,50010,00011,360

11,398 11,569

11,931 12,048

11,89923,93923,661
21,99912,388

11,657

12,258

11,212

11,681 11,273

11,56910,430

7,500
5,000
'14

'15

'16

'17

'18

'19

'20

'21

'22

'23

Figure A1 Trends in paper and paperboard production
Source: Monthly statistics for paper, print, plastic, and rubber products

Table A1 Paper and paperboard production by grades(‘000 ton; %)
2020

Years

2021

2022

2023

Grades

Qty.

Newsprint

2,061

85.1

1,978

96.0

1,854

93.7

1,666

89.9

Printing andcommunication paper

5,877

78.2

6,314

107.4

5,997

95.0

5,552

92.6

Wrapping paper

759

84.4

831

109.5

842

101.3

764

90.7

Sanitary paper

1,833

100.1

1,797

98.0

1,872

104.2

1,823

97.4

681

81.3

760

111.6

708

93.2

624

88.1

Paper total

11,212

83.0

11,681

104.2

11,273

96.5

10,43092.5

Corrugated fiber

9,701

100.4

10,131

104.4

10,201

100.7

9,511

93.2

1,378

86.2

1,501

108.9

1,562

104.1

1,491

95.5

579

90.2

625

107.9

624

99.8

567

90.9

Paperboard total

11,65798.0

12,258105.2

12,388101.1

11,569

93.4

Total

22,86990.0

23,939104.7

23,661

98.8

21,99993.0

Miscellaneous paper

White paperboard andpatent coated paperboard
Building board and otherpaperboard‘20/19Qty.

- 21 -‘21/20Qty.

‘22/21

Qty.

‘23/22

2 Trends in consumption of recovered paper and wood pulp
Recovered paper

Wood pulp('000t)18,00016,00017,091 16,984 17,031

17,114

16,957 16,521

14,00015,708 16,044 15,947

14,92012,00010,000
8,000

9,695

9,466

9,521

9,601

9,434

9,176
7,690

6,000

8,290

8,128

'21

'22

7,430

4,000
2,000
0
'14

'15

'16

'17

'18

'19

'20

'23

Figure A2 Trends in consumption of recovered paper and wood pulp
Source: Monthly statistics for paper, print, plastic, and rubber products

Table A2 Consumption of recovered paper by grades and wood pulp(‘000 ton; %)
2020

Years

2021

2022

2023

GradesQty.

Old newspaper

2,491

83.6

2,403

96.5

2,219

92.3

1,996

90.0

Old magazines

2,261

97.0

2,300

101.7

2,159

93.9

1,922

89.0

Old Corrugatedcontainers

8,837

99.6

9,292

105.1

9,552

102.8

9,052

94.8

Other grades

2,119

90.6

2,049

96.7

2,018

98.5

1,950

96.6

Recovered paper total

15,70895.1

16,044102.1

15,94799.4

14,920

93.6

Pulp total

7,690

83.8

8,290

107.8

8,128

98.0

7,430

91.4

‘20/19Qty.

- 22 -‘21/20Qty.

‘22/21

Qty.

‘23/22

3 Trends in import and export of paper and paperboard

3,000

Inprot ( )('000t)

2,500
2,000

( 1,736 )( 1,551 )

1,553

2,180

2,019

1,803

Exprot

2,127

1,879

1,732

1,613

1,500
1,000

1,200

1,357 ( 1,383 ) ( 1,347 )( 1,070 )( 1,368 )( 1,018 ) ( 1,042 )500( 910 )

( 813 )

'22

'23

0

'14

'15

'16

'17

'18

'19

'20

'21

Figure A3 Trends in import and export of paper and paperboard
Source: Monthly trade report

Table A3 Import of paper and paperboard(‘000 ton; %)
2020

Years
GradesQty.

2021‘20/19Qty.

2022‘21/20Qty.

2023‘22/21

Qty.

‘23/22

Paper

738

69.8

756

102.4

616

81.5

573

93.0

Paperboard

280

90.0

285

101.8

294

103.2

240

81.6

1,018

74.4

1,042

102.4

910

87.3

813

89.3

Total

Table A4 Export of paper and paperboard(‘000 ton; %)
2020

Years
GradesQty.

2021‘20/19Qty.

2022‘21/20Qty.

2023‘22/21

Qty.

‘23/22

Paper

922

86.5

1,064

115.4

997

93.7

872

87.5

Paperboard

958

175.1

1,115

116.4

1,131

101.4

860

76.0

1,879

116.5

2,180

116.0

2,127

97.6

1,732

81.4

Total

- 23 -

4 Trends in import and export of recovered paper
Inprot ( )6,000Exprot('000t)

5,000

4,619

4,261

4,138

4,000

3,734

3,779
3,141

3,188

3,000

2,365
1,833

2,000

2,224

1,000
0
(34)

(35)

(43)

(46)

(42)

(47)

(30)

(16)

(17)

(19)

'14

'15

'16

'17

'18

'19

'20

'21

'22

'23

(1,000)Figure A4 Trends in import and export of Recovered paper
Source: Monthly trade report

Table A5 Import of recovered paper by grades
2020
2021
2022
GradesQty.
‘20/19Qty.
‘21/20Qty.
‘22/21
OCC and Kraft
11
45.8
3
27.3
4
133.3
－
－
ONP and OMG
2
100.0
0
0
Others
17
81.0
13
76.5
13
100.0
Total
30
63.8
16
53.3
17
106.3
Notes: OCC; Old corrugated containers, ONP; Old newspaper, OMG; Old magazines
Years(‘000 ton; %)
2023
Qty.
‘23/22
3
75.0
－
0
16
123.1
19
111.8

Table A6 Export of recovered paper by grades
Years
Grades
OCC and Kraft
ONP and OMG
Others
Total

2020
Qty.
‘20/19
1,937
105.2
993
105.5
258
72.1
3,188
101.5

2021
Qty.
‘21/20
1,550
80.0
652
65.7
163
63.2
2,365
74.2

2022
Qty.
‘22/21
1,061
68.5
628
96.3
144
88.3
1,833
77.5

(‘000 ton; %)
2023
Qty.
‘23/22
1,551
146.2
533
84.9
141
97.9
2,224
121.3

Table A7 Export of recovered paper by countries
Years
GradesVietnamTaiwanIndonesia
South Korea
Malaysia
Thailand
China
Others
Total

2020
Qty.
‘20/19
812
138.8
403
131.7
298
144.0
220
94.0
55
392.9
171
123.9
1,199
73.1
30
176.5
3,188
101.5

2021
Qty.
‘21/20
772
95.1
587
145.7
280
94.0
394
179.1
83
150.9
229
133.9
0
－
20
66.7
2,365
74.2

- 24 -

2022
Qty.
667
406
235
353
40
127
0
5
1,833

‘22/21
86.4
69.2
83.9
89.6
48.2
55.5
－
25.0
77.5

(‘000 ton; %)
2023
Qty.
‘23/22
1,027
154.0
470
115.8
240
102.1
204
57.8
136
340.0
122
96.1
0
－
25
500.0
2,224
121.3

5 Trends in recovery rate and utilization rate of recovered paper

90.0

Recovery rate

(%)

85.0

Utilzation rate ( )

84.9

80.8

81.3

81.3

80.9

81.6

81.1

79.5

79.5

81.6

80.0
75.0
70.0
65.0
60.0

(63.9)(64.3)(64.2)(64.1)

'14

'15

'16

'17

(67.2)(64.3)(64.3)'18'19(66.0)(66.3)(66.8)

'21

'22

'23

55.0
50.0
'20

Figure A5 Trends in recovery rate and utilization rate of recovered paper
Source: Monthly statistics for paper, print, plastic, and rubber products

Table A8 Utilization rate of recovered paper by grades
(%)
Years

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Paper

40.3

40.2

39.2

37.9

37.3

36.6

37.4

34.7

34.1

34.9

Paperboard

93.2

93.5

93.8

93.8

93.4

93.5

94.2

93.8

93.7

93.6

Total

63.9

64.3

64.2

64.1

64.3

64.3

67.2

66.0

66.3

66.8

GradesTable A9 Recovery rate of recovered paper by grades
(%)
Years

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

OCC and Kraft

112.7

112.9

111.7

111.5

112.4

111.7

115.9

112.7

110.3

114.5

ONP

149.5

148.6

147.3

146.6

149.6

145.1

140.9

137.2

135.7

134.0

Recovery of
printing &communication
paper

44.7

45.2

45.4

45.3

48.5

47.4

53.6

50.1

49.8

50.4

Others

47.9

49.9

51.9

49.3

30.9

26.7

25.3

20.3

18.5

18.5

Total

80.8

81.3

81.3

80.9

81.6

79.5

84.9

81.1

79.5

81.6

Grades- 25 -