Japanese Ministry of Environment will include 5 billion yen (€ 39 Mln / $ 45Mln) in the 2019 budget for the development of products made from biodegradable bioplastics and subsidise companies that produces paper alternatives to plastic.
The Japanese Ministry of Environment will try to influence demand for bioplastics products by asking companies and research institutions to develop daily-use products such as food containers.
The Japanese Government has identified the major obstacle for the breakthrough of bioplastics which is the price. Bioplastics are more expensive than fossil-based plastics. The Japanese Government also knows that by reducing the use of fossil-based plastics and increasing the use of bioplastics they will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions during the incineration of the plastics.
The Japanese Ministry of Environment plans to support corporate investments in equipments intended to boost production of plastic alternatives with subsidies covering between 33% to 50% of the price of the equipment.
Plastic waste are pilling up in Japan since China stopped importing plastic waste and they don’t know what to do with it.
The action plan of the Japanese Ministry of Environment has the purpose to reduce marine plastic waste and consists of:
- drawing up a strategy for the recycling of plastic waste by June next year and implementing the strategy;
- a subsidy program for biodegradable bioplastics;
- promoting plastic waste reduction.
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Japan environment ministry to back development of biodegradable plastics