Why Circular Economy In Japan So Mesmerizing
Circular economy has become a sustainability concept applied in many countries including Japan. As we know, the circular economy is an economic concept that emphasizes reducing the use of resources, extending product life, and eliminating waste production by turning it into resources. This concept has become an interesting topic, including in Japan. Japan want to expand circular economy market to 80 T yen in 2030. So, let’s see how Japan strive to make it happen.
The Role of the Japanese Government in Creating a Circular Economy
Initially, in the 2000s Japan had massively implemented the 3R principles. Both the government and companies in Japan have implemented this principle. They have even made a stable achievement that is measured by the amount of waste recycled and how they reduce waste in landfills. Until finally, with the global trend regarding resources and waste that continues to increase, various government policies have emerged to respond to this.
For example, the Ministry of Environment issued a Plan of Establishing a Circular Society which is an important reference for implementing a circular economy in Japan. In addition, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) issued the Circular Economy Vision 2020. In fact, they are commit to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
It doesn’t stop here, Japan will also play an important role for the circular economy policy in the next few years. Japan will host the G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Sapporo. In addition, Japan will also host the World Expo in 2025 in Osaka. This shows the seriousness of the country of Sakura to realize a circular economy.
Companies That Implementing Circular Economy In Japan
Not only government policies that support circular economy in Japan. Various companies also carry out the circular economy principle. For example BRING T-shirt which is a clothing product that comes from recycled used clothes. This product is a project run by a Japanese consultant concerned with the environment and recycling, JEPLAN. The impact of this company is enormous. They shift the dependence of clothing products that use oil and non-renewable energy. They also reduce clothing waste which can damage the environment.
In the technology sector, the circular economy in Japan also has the company Zaurus. This company provides smartphone recycling services. They believe that what they are doing can reduce electronic waste which continues to increase over time. Their efforts also have a direct impact on extracting new resources from mining. This is because the smartphones they destroy produce valuable materials such as cobalt, nickel and palladium.
Another company that is no less interesting is iKasa. This company offers umbrella rental services in Japan. Don’t be surprised, within six months, this company received an investment of 30 million yen as a business development based on the sharing economy. Initially there were 50 umbrella borrowing points in Shibuya, but now there are hundreds of umbrella borrowing points in various other areas. The latest data says there are 38,000 users with 4,000 available umbrellas. If you want to try it, you only need 70 yen (Rp 8000) to borrow this umbrella for a day.
Various Movements Accelerating Circular Economy in Japan
Apart from the government and companies, there are also organizations that support the circular economy. For example, Circular Economy Japan which aims to build a circular economy with international standards in Japan. There is also a Circular Economy Hub which is an information platform regarding the circular economy either through news, workshops, events, podcasts so as to increase public awareness about the circular economy. In addition, there is the Kanagawa Upcycle Consortium which wants to promote the upcycle model and become a model for other countries.
Besides that, last December 2022, there was the Kyoto Onpaku event. This music event is different from other music events in general. This is because they provide compost stations and upcycled and vegan ice cream. In fact, this event also conducts waste sorting, introduces reusable tableware, and avoids using flyers, so that it is almost a zero-waste event.
Conclusion
The circular economy in Japan is growing very rapidly. The Japanese government has carried out many policies that are in harmony with the circular economy from several decades ago. In fact, the government’s policy regarding the circular economy continues to be echoed for decades to come. In addition, many companies in Japan also apply circular economy principles in various sectors. Lastly, the many other organizations and events regarding circular economy have made Japan one of the countries worthy of being a role model.