Japan Seeks to Cut Clothing Waste by 25% by 2030

Japan aims to reduce clothing waste by 25% by fiscal 2030 compared with 2020 levels to address the environmental impact of carbon dioxide–intensive garment production, Mainichi Japan reported.

An estimated 820,000 tons of new clothing were supplied in Japan in 2024, most of it imported.

The push to promote reuse and recycling comes as textile waste has become a major global issue, with the fashion industry generating an estimated 92 million tons annually, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The sector accounts for about 10% of global carbon emissions, the New York-based body said in March.

Under a new action plan to be compiled by March, the Japanese government will promote broader reuse and recycling of clothing, calling on local governments, businesses, and households to work together to curb textile waste.

An estimated 820,000 tons of new clothing were supplied in Japan in 2024, most of it imported, according to an Environment Ministry report.

The report estimated that 8.38 billion cubic meters of water are consumed annually through dyeing and transportation processes for clothing supplied to Japan, while about 95 million tons of carbon dioxide are emitted.

With secondhand sales and textile recycling remaining limited, an estimated 560,000 tons of clothing were incinerated or sent to landfills in 2024, about 90% of which came from households.