Construction of a Sound Material-cycle Society:

Challenges and Outlook

Abstract

In Japan, there has been steady progress in the legal framework for resource recycling since around 2000, which is considered the start of the sound material-cycle society. As a result, there have been some positive results, which include achievement ahead of schedule of a number of the indicators that were established as targets. In recent years, the EU has been promoting new government policies on resource recycling under the name of resource efficiency or the circular economy. This paper provides an overview of these policies in addition to considering the implications for government policies on resource recycling in Japan.