New Law Requires Japan Firms To Cut Use Of Plastic

A law aimed at reducing the use of disposable plastic products goes into effect today, April 1, in Japan, requiring businesses that use large amounts of such plastic to reduce its use, Toshiyuki Suzuki reported for Mainichi Japan.

Photo Insert: Fake plastic food restaurant display in Japan

The law is likely to spur a reduction in plastic waste among restaurants, accommodation facilities, and other businesses. However, specific reduction measures have largely been left to businesses and consumers, so it is not clear how much reduction can be expected.

Under the plastic resource recycling promotion law, businesses that provide 5 metric tons or more of plastic products per year are obliged to reduce the amount used. The law covers 12 items, including spoons and forks offered at supermarkets and convenience stores, toothbrushes supplied by hotels, and hangers at dry-cleaning stores.

Reduction methods are left to the discretion of the business, with options including reducing the weight of such products, charging a fee for them, switching to alternative materials, or giving points to customers who turn the items down.

Convenience store giant Lawson Inc. will reduce the weight of its conventional spoons and forks by making holes in their handles starting April 1. Lawson aims to introduce the lightweight spoons and forks at all of its stores by August, and will also start offering wooden spoons in some stores that month.

Seven-Eleven Japan Co. has already switched to spoons and forks that contain 30% plant-derived plastic. The hotel industry is also beginning to review the distribution of plastic items.

Hotel chain Super Hotel Co. stopped providing toothbrushes and other supplies in guest rooms on March 31. The company instead decided to set up a supply corner in the front lobby of all its hotels from April 1, and guests will bring such items into their rooms at their own discretion.

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