Waste Bottle (PET Bottle) Reincarnation - Where We Are Today in Resource Recycling and Environmental Issues (2024)

Waste Bottle (PET Bottle) Reincarnation - Where We Are Today in Resource Recycling and Environmental Issues (2024)

Japan's PET bottle recycling rate reached 869% in FY2022, maintaining a high level by global standards. Through the promotion of recycling, the weight reduction rate of PET bottles reached 276% in FY2022 compared to FY04, exceeding the original target. In particular, "bottle-to-bottle" recycling, in which used PET bottles are recycled into new PET bottles, has been promoted, and in FY2022 the amount of recycled PET resin used reached 169 thousand tons, accounting for 290% of the total. This has promoted the recycling of raw materials and contributed to the reduction of petroleum-based plastics.

However, while the recycling rate in Japan is high, the impact of plastic waste, including PET bottles, on the marine environment remains significant. According to a survey by the Ministry of the Environment, plastics account for 658% of all litter that washes ashore by piece, including beverage bottles. Furthermore, it is estimated that about 260,000 tons of plastic litter flows out of Japan into the ocean each year, and there are concerns about the negative impact on marine ecosystems and fisheries. In the North Pacific "garbage belt," 90% of fish and seabirds ingest plastic, and this has caused economic losses, including a 20% decrease in fishing productivity.

In response to this situation, the Japanese government has formulated the "Plastic Resource Recycling Strategy" and set a goal of reducing plastic use by 25% by 2030. An increasing number of companies are promoting the recycling of PET bottles; Suntory, for example, aims to achieve 100% sustainable PET bottles by 2025. Teijin Fibers and Sumitomo Corporation have also established "bottle-to-bottle" technology and introduced automated collection machines to remove foreign matter and separate colors more efficiently, further improving the recycling rate. In Hiroshima City, a PET bottle recycling facility was established in 2004 within Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Eba Plant, and the city is promoting resource recycling in cooperation with Chugoku Electric Power Co. and NK Environmental Co.

As related information, details on PET bottle recycling in Japan can be found in the annual report of the Council for PET Bottle Recycling Promotion. The Ministry of the Environment's Marine Plastic Survey is also published, and data on the amount of plastic runoff from Japan can be found in a report by the "Nippon Foundation. Details on corporate recycling activities can be found on the official website of Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan.