Last Updated:	2006-08-22
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Introduction

Japan's policy and law initiatives in the areas of Design-for-Environment ("DfE") and product stewardship are among the most aggressive in Asia. Japan has distinguished itself among the other governments in the region, and the rest of the world, by developing national policies to promote "sustainable development" through government, commercial and private recycling and other resource-use minimization efforts. As part of this system-wide policy development effort, Japan is adopting a number of laws that will constitute the country's legal system supporting a "recycling-based society."

Key among these laws is the Fundamental Law for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society (Law No. 110) (enacted 2000). Although supported and clarified by concepts established earlier under the Basic Environmental Law (Law No. 91) (enacted 1993), this is the first "Framework Law" setting forth requirements for, among other things, the move toward a recycling-based approach to product design, manufacture, use and disposal, by various segments of Japanese society. As such, it is most appropriate to discuss this Law in the DfE and Product Stewardship Section of the Japan Country Page.