This note reviews how Japan and countries around the world are taking actions to develop various policies and projects to achieve 2050 Carbon Neutral Goal; resource circulation is also expected to reach that goal. The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) argues that there can be no dispute about the fact that human activity is the major factor for global warming since the mid-20th century. It also asserts that by capping the world’s temperature at 1.5°C, it is possible to reduce the probability of an extremely high temperature phenomenon occurring once every 50 years, which has occurred in recent years, by about 30%. There is an international movement making efforts in line with this view and Japan has also declared its pledge to reach carbon neutral by 2050. Policies and projects linked to the 2050 goal, determined by the 2030 emission target, are already in place. All industries are now engaged in the race for realizing a decarbonized society. It is essential to build technologies and systems that take into consideration further development of resource circulation including plastics and a variety of other materials.

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In the material cycles and waste sectors, it is essential to urgently consider emission reduction measures to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Ministry of the Environment has formulated a scenario for achieving this goal in both of these areas by setting multiple scenarios according to the strength of countermeasures. The scenarios imply that this sector can reach net-zero, or even net-negative emissions, by 2050 with a maximum deployment of CCUS at waste disposal facilities along with continued progress on plastic resource recycling moving toward 2050. At the same time, the scenarios reveal that measures based on extension of the current plans and policies are insufficient. It has become clear that all parties concerned must address the challenges with considerable ambition and clear prospects. In conjunction with this, we will deepen our examination of more specific and effective efforts within these sectors.

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With the aim of achieving a carbon-neutral society by 2050 and in response to the Paris Agreement, Japan has raised its targets for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and declared that it will limit its total emissions to approximately 760 million tonnes by 2030. The materials industry, which accounts for about 20% of Japan’s GHG emissions, is finding difficulties in decarbonising its production processes with the introduction of renewable electric energy. In recent years, much attention has focused on material efficiency strategies and material budget strategies, which aim to reduce GHG emissions while reducing material production itself. Extensive efficiency improvements in material consumption have the potential for high emission reductions, but some estimates suggest that the material consumption required to meet the 2°C climate target is conditional on cutting the current level in half. On the other hand, the demand for critical metals is expected to increase due to the spread of decarbonisation technologies, such as electric vehicles, which could mean that addressing the duality of innovative reduction and stable increase in material use will bring us closer to achieving a carbon-neutral society.

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Biomethane is biogas upgraded to natural gas quality, potentially contributing to decarbonation in the energy and transport sectors. Upgrading of biogas produced from anaerobic digestion of organic waste through separation of CO₂ is the typical route for biomethane generation. Recently, conversion of CO₂ in biogas to biomethane is attracting attention as one of the possible CO₂ recycling technologies. Bio-methanation has been investigated as a method of biological synthesis of biomethane, and recognized as a technology in synergy with material cycles and waste management. This work describes the state of the art and challenges in the investigation of biomethanation technology.

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Efforts are being made worldwide to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero by 2050 or 2030, which is in the process. This study reviews global GHG reduction strategies for achieving a carbon-neutral society. Case studies from the UK, USA, London, and Toronto are presented to show how various nations and cities have promoted cross-sectional strategies for net-zero emissions. In the material cycles and waste management sector, quantitative reduction scenarios from Japan and abroad are introduced, incorporating scenarios like the Six Carbon Budget Report (UK) and Zero Waste Boston (Boston). GHG counter measures include organic waste prevention including food waste, 3Rs for other wastes, waste-to-energy recovery, and non-CO₂ GHG countermeasures. The paper suggests a need for further discussions on GHG quantification methods aimed at transitioning toward a decarbonized society, as LCA studies on carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) are increasing, along with other reduction measures such as biogasification. As more net-zero emission plans and strategies are formulated in various cities and regions moving forward, it will be essential to quantitatively understand, verify, and improve their effectiveness.

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Due to compliance with SDGs, there has been growing awareness throughout the world of environmental issues and the importance of incorporating a mindset of sustainability. Such a mindset, however, does not immediately lead to a big movement and businesses need to be established to support it. ITOCHU Corporation has been working on an environmental business that is expected to foster new movements and changes among customers using market-oriented ideas. ITOCHU is advocating a market-in environmental model and has established various initiatives such as biotechnology, recycling, and reuse as actual businesses that ultimately promote social implementation. This paper is an introduction to some of the new “market-in” environmental business initiatives created by ITOCHU Corporation, including recycling of beach plastics, creation of renewable (bio) plastics, and business models based on reuse. The paper also shares some of the business obstacles of these efforts and problems being faced within the field.

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Member companies of the Japan Environmental Facilities Manufacturers Association is working on CCUS at waste incineration facilities in order to move toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. In order to understand the carbon dioxide recovery process for flue gas, this study first presents examples of the chemical absorption method, some commercial facilities in operation, and application of the carbon dioxide-capture process at waste incineration facilities. Secondly, the paper looks at the equipment at a facility of the Saga City Waste Disposal Center that has been operating since 2016 and is the world’s first attempt at capturing and utilizing carbon dioxide from flue gas. Clean Plaza Fujimi, a center which has been able to verify the carbon dioxide-capture process test, is also introduced. Finally, the paper introduces a methanation demonstration plant that produces methane by carbon dioxide in flue gas and hydrogen on a commercial scale.

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About 3 million tons of industrial waste oil (comprised of waste solvents, waste lubricating oils, waste cooking oils, etc.) is being generated annually (2018FY). Approximately 42% of this discharge is recycled into alternative fuels and the rest is incinerated. Waste oil-derived CO₂ emissions (about 9.8 million tons CO₂ in 2018FY) account for about 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the waste sector. Keeping in line with the aim of transitioning into a carbon-neutral society by 2050, measures to reduce CO₂ emissions from waste oil must be considered a high priority. Although waste oil recycled as fuel contributes to the reduction of CO₂ emissions equivalent to the alternative heavy oil and light oil, most solvents and lubricants are actually major sources of waste oil and are made from petroleum. From the viewpoint of carbon neutralization, therefore, it is necessary to consider measures to reduce CO₂ emissions from all waste oil, including that used as recycled fuel. This paper summarizes the current status of recycling of waste solvents and waste lubricants, and also introduces some prospects for strategies to make the entire waste oil cycle carbon-neutral by the year 2050.

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