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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R) Policy in Japan seeks to lower waste volume. In addition to calling for greater recycling, disposal and collecting facilities, the regulation assigns an extended producer responsibility (EPR) to businesses that produce and sell products. EPR functions through a take-back requirement, deposit refund schemes and the shifting of financial and/or physical responsibility of a product at the post-consumer stage upstream to the producer.

A policy on EPR has been introduced for containers, packaging and some household appliances. The achievements of the policy so far have been encouraging, with an increase in the number of units recovered (post- consumer use) at designated collection sites in 2003 and 2004, of 3 and 10 per cent respectively compared with 2002.

Table 10.2 Quantitative targets for Japan’s 3R Policy for 2000–2010

Item

2000 Indicator

2010 Target

Resource productivity

280 000 yen (US$2 500) per tonne

390 000 yen (US$3 500) per tonne (40% improvement)

Target for cyclical use rate

10%

14% (40% improvement)

Target for final disposal amount

56 million tonnes

28 million tonnes (50% reduction)

Source: MOEJ 2005

Sustainable consumption and production is becom- ing a priority for countries worldwide and there are many initiatives and programmes in addition to the Marrakech Process at national and regional levels (for example the EU Action Plan on Sustainable Con- sumption and Production). It is often necessary to look at innovative measures to meet (material) needs, and develop new innovative product and service systems. This is especially im- portant when considering the new emerging “global consumer class,” with large groups of middle-class consumers showing increasingly similar consumption patterns in rapidly-developing countries. The Future From a human perspective, the world is becoming smaller. For example, the amount of land per capita has been reduced to about one-quarter of what it was a century ago due to population growth and it can be expected to be further reduced to about one-fifth of the 1900 level by 2050. Natural capital, including ecosystem services, is critical to the development of nations. It is the basis of subsistence in many poor communities. Yet de- pletion of energy resources, forests, agricultural land and watersheds and damage from air and water pollutants is not recorded in the national accounts as depreciation. Yet all these sectors, through their respective activities, create unwanted negative impacts.

A “Northern” development model still prevails (one sign is the accelerating growth of urban develop- ment based on car dependency), and despite progress on some fronts there is too much evidence of development to the detriment of environment,

D ownload G raphic 2

trillion constant US$

12

2.6

2

trillion constant US$ 35

21

20

billion tonnes 26

22

22

per cent of land area 39

36.95

36

1995

1990

1985

63 RESOURCE E F F I C I ENCY