Abstract
As a measure to promote recycling of plastics, the EU has proposed a new draft regulation that establishes an obligation for packaging, and automobiles to contain recycled plastic materials. This paper summarizes information on the demand for recycled plastic resulting from the proposed content rate. It reveals that the EU will have a demand for 3.7 million tons of recycled plastic in 2030 and more than 10 million tons in 2040 for packaging, and 0.75 million tons annually for automobile manufacturing after 2031. With regard to automobiles, since the proposed law will be applied to imported vehicles, Japanese automobile manufacturers will also need to procure recycled plastic domestically. In the midst of the global trend toward a circular economy, Japan is being forced to take action on how to promote the recycling of plastics.
