The Law for the Circulation of Plastic Resources in Japan: Development, Institutional Mechanisms, and Policy Lessons for Thailand

Abstract

This article analyses the development of Japan’s legal framework for plastic management, with particular focus on the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics (2021) and related legislation. The study employs a documentary and legal analysis based on the conceptual frameworks of the circular economy, the waste hierarchy, and the life-cycle approach in order to examine the legal mechanisms governing plastic resource circulation.

The findings indicate that Japan’s legal system has gradually evolved from end-of-pipe waste management towards a life-cycle governance approach that integrates product design, consumption, collection, and recycling within a comprehensive regulatory framework. The system also distributes responsibilities among national government, local authorities, businesses, and consumers through a multi-level governance structure. Nevertheless, several limitations remain, including a high reliance on thermal recovery and limited reduction of plastics at the source. The study highlights key policy lessons for Thailand in developing circular economy legislation, particularly regarding framework laws, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), eco-design governance, and the development of supporting infrastructure and data systems for resource circulation.