Japan Requests Comments on Draft Standards for Soft Drink and Other Containers
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) posted a request for public comment (in Japanese) on Draft Standards for PET soft-drink bottles, containers for cosmetics (e.g., shampoo bottles) and detergents, and office supplies (e.g., file folder, binder, etc.). The new design standards, which will certify conformity with the Act Concerning Sophistication of Recycling Business, etc. to Promote Resource Circulation, are intended to promote the sustainability of plastic articles.
The Draft Design Standard for soft drink PET bottles specifies that they:
- Shall be made of PET without additives or, when a substance other than PET is added, the resulting bottle must be hygienic and recyclable;
- Shall be colorless;
- Shall have a handle made of PET without color, or PE or PP (with a specific gravity below 1.0); and
- May only have small printing indicating information such as the shelf life or lot number.
Also, the bottles must contain at least 15% by weight of post-industrial recycled (PIR) material, post-consumer recycled (PCR) material, or bio-mass plastic.
Other requirements specify that labels on the bottles may not contain PVC and must be made of materials that can be separated from the bottles during processes, such as air separation and washing, that occur during reprocessing. In addition, the ink on the labels may not offset to PET bottles and the labels may not be laminated with aluminum. PET bottle caps may not contain PVC and must have PE or PP (with a specific gravity below 1.0) as a main component.
The Draft Design Standards for cosmetics containers (for shampoo, hair treatment, body wash, and hand soap) apply to the containers’ cap, dispenser, spout, packaging, and ancillary parts and include types of plastics that may be used and requirements for PIR and PCR materials. Separate standards are specified for refillable cosmetic containers.
The Design Standard for consumer detergent containers prohibits ceramics, glass, and aerosol components. They also specify specific materials that may be used and establish requirements for PIR materials, PCR materials, and bio-mass plastic content.
Comments are due by April 16, 2025, JST.