Recycling rate of packaging Japan FY 2021, by material

In the fiscal year 2021, the recycling rate of PET bottles in Japan amounted to 86 percent, making up the largest recycling rate of packaging material. The recycling rates for plastic and paper containers and packaging were much lower.

 Packaging industry in Japan

In Japan, paper, and paperboard products were the packaging material with the highest shipment volume, followed by plastic, while glass, metal, and wood made up a smaller share. Paper packaging in form of corrugated boxes is mostly demanded for food packaging. Plastic is also commonly used for food and beverage containers, which made up over half of the household waste in Japan. These large amounts of plastic waste contribute to waste pollution.

Recycling rates remain low in Japan

In Japan, plastic, PET bottles, paper, aluminum, and glass are collected separately to be recycled. However, the overall recycling rate in Japan has remained at close to 20 percent over the past decade, constituting one of the lowest recycling rates among OECD countries. With a rate of over 75 percent, waste incineration remains the most widely used waste treatment method in Japan.