Japan aims to expand the scale of its circular economy to 80 trillion yen by 2030 to meet its goal of becoming zero emissions by 2050.
The volume is currently around 50 trillion yen (around 364 billion euros). The expansion plan is one of several steps to make Japan carbon neutral.
The expansion of the circular economy focuses on recycling and reuse
The expansion of the circular economy should focus on the recycling of raw materials and the distribution of used products, thus reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, one of the main causes of climate change.
The Japanese Ministry of the Environment plans to apply for the costs in the first state budget for the 2023 financial year and to draw up a plan for individual expansion stages in the near future.
Among other things, the plan is to provide for doubling the recycling percentage of electronic substrates and old batteries in order to use valuable and rare metals sustainably.
Demand for lithium and other rare metals used in electric vehicle batteries is growing rapidly as countries switch to gas-powered vehicles.
To that end, the ministry will seek to encourage imports of used equipment from countries such as Southeast Asia, a region that lacks the technology for recycling products to extract rare metals and other resources.
Promotion of investments by Japanese companies
The planned budget application for the expansion of the circular economy also provides financial support for investments by Japanese companies. The timetable includes measures for the disposal of solar cells, which are expected to reach the end of their lives at the end of the 2030s.
It aims to introduce legislative measures to encourage the reuse and recycling of solar panels overflowed after the March 2011 earthquake that struck northeastern Japan and a nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan. after the recession.
The ministry will try to provide funds in the 2023 budget for testing recycling technologies that reduce CO₂ emissions.
The timeline will also include plans to review mass production and consumption of clothing, as well as targets to encourage clothing reuse, repair and other sustainable uses.
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