disposable – METI Journal https://meti-journal.japantimes.co.jp The METI Journal introduces featured policies of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and showcases noteworthy topics and relevant efforts surrounding economic and industrial circles. Updated twice a month, the articles on this website are edited translations from the METI Journal. Wed, 24 Jun 2020 01:44:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 Japan working on development of marine biodegradable plastics https://meti-journal.japantimes.co.jp/2020-06-26/ Fri, 26 Jun 2020 03:00:00 +0000 https://meti-journal.japantimes.co.jp/?p=1054
Elsewhere in the world, there is a growing movement to reduce the use of disposable plastics, prompted by an increasing awareness over issues caused by marine plastic waste.

Development of environmentally friendly designs and alternative materials that can address such social needs can be a driving force for businesses to create innovation.]]> New disposable bags

In anticipation of the time when disposable plastic shopping bags are bought, rather than provided for free, efforts to develop biodegradable, disposable shopping bags have recently gained momentum.

Conventional plastics do not break down when disposed of; they remain in the environment until they are properly processed. Biodegradable plastics can, over time, be turned into water and carbon dioxide by microorganisms. If plastics feature marine biodegradability, they can greatly reduce the environmental impact on oceans and waterways.

Toppan Printing Co. and GSI Creos Corp., a major synthetic fiber manufacturer, have teamed up to develop such biodegradable products. Some of these products include shopping bags, trash bags and cutlery. The companies plan to supply these products to convenience stores in the future, after overcoming remaining hurdles such as cost reduction.

Toppan Printing Co. and GSI Creos Corp. have developed biodegradable plastic shopping bags, cutlery and other products.

They also plan to expand the scope of uses for the manufacturing technology acquired through this joint development project, aiming to use it to manufacture film items and molded products.

Top company making inroads

Fukusuke Kogyo Co., in Shikokuchuo, Ehime Prefecture, is Japan’s largest manufacturer of disposable plastic shopping bags. The company stands to suffer as demand for such bags is expected to decrease when they cease to be free.

To counter this, the company has developed a shopping bag that is biodegradable in the ocean. The product uses a biodegradable resin derived from various materials, including corn. The bag is said to be the first of its kind in the world that can carry up to 8 kilograms, a standard that conventional counterparts are typically required to carry, and can be mass produced.

]]> Curbing disposable bag usage only first step in reducing plastics use https://meti-journal.japantimes.co.jp/2020-06-12/ Fri, 12 Jun 2020 03:00:00 +0000 https://meti-journal.japantimes.co.jp/?p=1033
Japan produces the second-largest amount of disposable plastic package waste per person in the world after the United States. At a time when plastic waste outflow into the ocean has become a serious problem around the world, charging for disposable bags is a significant first step in that it provides consumers with a chance to reflect on how they rely on disposable plastics and encourages them to change their mindset.]]>
Retailers across Japan will start charging shoppers for disposable plastic bags from July.

The METI Journal looks into the current plastic waste situation and efforts to develop materials and products with a low environmental load, and discusses how we can shape a sustainable future.

Changing behavior

In January, a unique idea for reducing disposable plastic shopping bags was tested at convenience stores inside government ministry buildings, including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Finance. The test was aimed at assessing the impact on consumer behavior of putting a behavioral economics concept called Nudge theory into practice.

Organizers distributed cards with a printed message saying, “I don’t need a disposable bag,” intended for shoppers to show cashiers their preference. While similar card systems are often used at Japanese retailers, different card designs were trialed in this test to see if there was any difference in the number of shoppers who declined plastic bags.

At a store inside the METI building, cards with a design featuring a photo of a beach strewn with marine litter were used, while the cards introduced at a store at the Ministry of Finance only had the message printed on a blank background.

Convenience stores inside the buildings of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and other facilities conducted a test on reducing the use of disposable shopping plastic bags.

As the word indicates, the idea behind Nudge theory is to provide preferable options to curb people’s behavior in desired ways while respecting their freedom. The January test was part of a new initiative to explore ways to alter consumer behavior in order to reduce plastic waste through methods other than charging for disposable bags.

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