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Governance and Innovation in Plastic Waste Management: The Case of Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Minoo Tehrani

    (Gabelli School of Business, Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI 02809, USA)

  • Yu Cui

    (Graduate School of Sociology, Kansai University, Osaka 564-8680, Japan)

Abstract

This study investigates plastic waste management, focusing on Japan. The volume of plastic waste in Japan is more than eight million tons, and less than a quarter of the plastic waste is subjected to recycling. Considering that Japan is an archipelago consisting of a combination of four large islands and numerous smaller ones, plastic waste that enters the ocean poses significant threats to marine life, birds, other living beings, and beach pollution. This research explores the underlying factors that have made Japan one of the highest users of plastic. In addition, this study evaluates different strategies that are utilized in Japan to deal with the reduction in plastic utilization and plastic waste. The final section of the study proposes strategies that can reduce utilization of plastic and production of plastic waste and the new and future outlook for replacement of plastic.

Suggested Citation

  • Minoo Tehrani & Yu Cui, 2025. "Governance and Innovation in Plastic Waste Management: The Case of Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:21:p:9387-:d:1777204
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Artūras Torkelis & Jolanta Dvarionienė & Gintaras Denafas, 2024. "The Factors Influencing the Recycling of Plastic and Composite Packaging Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-30, October.
    2. Yuan Tian & Mengqi Han & Dungang Gu & Zhujie Bi & Nannan Gu & Tingting Hu & Guanghui Li & Nan Zhang & Jiaqi Lu, 2024. "PVC Dechlorination for Facilitating Plastic Chemical Recycling: A Systematic Literature Review of Technical Advances, Modeling and Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-27, September.
    3. Benjamin Gazeau & Atiq Zaman & Roberto Minunno & Faiz Shaikh, 2024. "Developing Traceability Systems for Effective Circular Economy of Plastic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-28, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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