From bento boxes to individually wrapped bananas - plastic reigns supreme in Japan. But amid global concern about single-use waste, new legislation could help end the country's love affair with plastic
From bento boxes to individually wrapped bananas, plastic reigns supreme in Japan. But amid global concern about single-use waste, new legislation could help end the country's love affair with plastic.
In 2018, Japan's government unveiled a proposal to start tackling the issue, with the goal of reducing the country's 9.4 million tonnes of plastic waste a year by 25 percent by 2030. "Other countries were ahead of us," concedes Doi, adding that the policy in Japan "will be introduced in 2020, at the earliest."So far, the proposals also lack any specific measures on limiting other types of single-use plastic waste, such as straws or cups.
At a supermarket in Makuhari, east of Tokyo, customers line up with their groceries and reusable shopping bags. "It takes only a little effort to not use plastic bags and plastic items," she said, explaining her shock at seeing images of marine life suffering the effects of such litter in the ocean."Some customers actually left and said they would shop elsewhere," she said.Not 100 percent of customers will accept this system if only Aeon does it," she added.
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