Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R)
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R) Policy in Japan seeks to lower waste volume. A policy on EPR has been introduced for containers, packaging and some
In addition to calling for greater recycling, disposal and collecting household appliances. The achievements of the policy so far have been
facilities, the regulation assigns an extended producer responsibility (EPR) encouraging, with an increase in the number of units recovered (post-
to businesses that produce and sell products. EPR functions through a consumer use) at designated collection sites in 2003 and 2004, of 3 and
take-back requirement, deposit refund schemes and the shifting of financial 10 per cent respectively compared with 2002.
and/or physical responsibility of a product at the post-consumer stage
upstream to the producer.
Table 10.2 Quantitative targets for Japan’s 3R Policy for 2000–2010
Item 2000 Indicator 2010 Target
Resource productivity 280 000 yen (US$2 500) per tonne 390 000 yen (US$3 500) per tonne (40% improvement)
Target for cyclical use rate 10% 14% (40% improvement)
Target for final disposal amount 56 million tonnes 28 million tonnes (50% reduction)
Source: MOEJ 2005
Sustainable consumption and production is becom- A “Northern” development model still prevails (one
ing a priority for countries worldwide and there are sign is the accelerating growth of urban develop-
many initiatives and programmes in addition to the ment based on car dependency), and despite
Marrakech Process at national and regional levels progress on some fronts there is too much evidence
(for example the EU Action Plan on Sustainable Con- of development to the detriment of environment,
sumption and Production).
DownloaD Graphic 2
It is often necessary to look at innovative measures to
trillion constant US$
12
Trade
meet (material) needs, and develop new innovative
10.4
GDP
product and service systems. This is especially im-
CO2 emissions
portant when considering the new emerging “global
Agriculture
2.6
consumer class,” with large groups of middle-class
2
consumers showing increasingly similar consumption
trillion constant US$
35
patterns in rapidly-developing countries.
35
The Future
21
20
From a human perspective, the world is becoming billion tonnes
26
smaller. For example, the amount of land per capita
26
has been reduced to about one-quarter of what it
was a century ago due to population growth and
it can be expected to be further reduced to about
22
22
one-fifth of the 1900 level by 2050. per cent of land area
39
38.42
Natural capital, including ecosystem services, is
Graphs show changes in trade
critical to the development of nations. It is the basis
volume (1987–2005), GDP
36.95 (1987–2004), CO2 emissions
of subsistence in many poor communities. Yet de- 36 (1990–2003) and agricultural
pletion of energy resources, forests, agricultural land
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
land area (1987–2002).
and watersheds and damage from air and water
pollutants is not recorded in the national accounts
as depreciation. Yet all these sectors, through their
respective activities, create unwanted negative
impacts.
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY 63