Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Plastic waste in Japan - statistics & facts
Japan continues to be one of the largest producers of plastic products, with plastic packaging and single-use plastic products being the leading plastic products that were manufactured. Even though the disposal volume of plastic waste in Japan has decreased, it remained at over seven million metric tons annually. Plastic packaging is commonly used as it holds the image of being hygienic among Japanese citizens. The popularity of takeaway food boxes from supermarkets, as well as vending machines with beverages in PET bottles, contributes to the generation of plastic waste. As a result, plastic waste pollution has become a major environmental issue, posing a threat both to the health of animals and humans, as harmful chemicals from microplastics end up in the food chain.
