Convenient but “disposable” culture of Japan
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(Konatsu Himeda: Journalist)
The “Plastic Resource Recycling Promotion Law” came into effect on April 1. The law imposes obligations on companies to reduce the amount of plastic products used, covering 12 items such as spoons and straws distributed at retail stores and toothbrushes provided by hotels.
According to the Plastic Recycling Association, Japan’s waste plastic emissions in 2020 will be 8.22 million tons. The government has set a target to reduce disposable plastic emissions by 25% by 2030, but international organizations have pointed out that the target itself, target deadline, and enforcement force are “insufficient.”
Germans who won’t complain even if it’s inconvenient
How are other developed countries working? In 2019, the EU Council formulated the Directive on Reducing the Environmental Burden of Specified Plastic Products, banning the provision of disposable plastic products and containers and packaging in the EU market in 2021. In the same year, the provision of disposable plastics was banned in Germany, and plastic containers, straws, spoons, etc. were all replaced with paper and wood.
When I visited Germany in the fall of the same year, I never used plastic containers, spoons or forks during my stay.
