Japan circular economy and resource recycling initiatives

Japan is expanding its circular economy initiatives through both textile-focused sustainability and broader industrial resource management.

In the fashion sector, public-private partnerships are being established to reduce textile waste. The Sustainable Fashion Platform Council is collaborating with Ichikawa City to collect and recycle discarded clothing, with a goal to process 37,500 tons of clothing annually by 2030. Additionally, companies like Nippon Wool Textile Co., Ltd. are utilizing technology to facilitate a ‘clothing-to-clothing’ resource cycle.

On a broader industrial scale, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is targeting the recycling of approximately 30% of raw materials for permanent magnets by 2030 to reduce supply chain dependencies. To support this, the government is implementing the revised Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources, which mandates recycling targets for manufacturers. Local efforts, such as a demonstration project in Kyoto City, are also focusing on recycling plastics and bedding alongside the reuse of clothing and toys.