Japan Recycled Plastics Market

Japan Recycled Plastics Market Insights Forecasts to 2035

• The Japan Recycled Plastics Market Size Was Estimated at USD 2846.2 Million in 2024
• The Market Size is Expected to Grow at a CAGR of Around 9.46% from 2025 to 2035
• The Japan Recycled Plastics Market Size is Expected to Reach USD 7694.5 Million by 2035

According to a research report published by Decision Advisors & Consulting, The Japan recycled plastics Market Size is anticipated to reach USD 7694.5 Million by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 9.46% from 2025 to 2035. The recycled plastics market in Japan is driven by government regulations on recycled content, growing consumer demand for sustainable materials, advancements in recycling infrastructure and technology, corporate sustainability pledges, and the growing use of eco-friendly products and packaging

Market Overview

The market for recycled plastics deals with the collection, processing, and repurposing of plastic trash into goods or reusable raw materials. The recycling of plastics in Japan involves using both mechanical and chemical methods to recycle both post-consumer and post-industrial plastic wastes, as well as converting them into packaging materials, consumer goods, textiles, automotive components/parts, and building materials. In Japan, the recycled plastics market is supported by government policies and initiatives. In 2023, total recycled plastics reached 6.9?million tonnes, with 515,000?tonnes used in manufacturing. The Plastic Resource Circulation Act and the 2025 Sustainable Plastics Initiative promote recycling, quality certification, and circular economy adoption, driving demand and encouraging industrial and consumer use of recycled plastics. There are opportunities in sustainable packaging solutions, high value industrial applications, and closed loop production. A strong push for circularity in Japan's plastics industry is seen in recent developments such as PFI backed chemical recycling initiatives for PET bottles, industry government partnerships to standardize recycled resin quality, and growing corporate pledges toward sustainable material sourcing.

Report Coverage

This research report categorizes the market for the Japan recycled plastics market based on various segments and regions, and forecasts revenue growth and analyses trends in each submarket. The report analyses the key growth drivers, opportunities, and challenges influencing the Japan recycled plastics market. Recent market developments and competitive strategies, such as expansion, product launch, development, partnership, merger, and acquisition have been included to draw the competitive landscape in the market. The report strategically identifies and profiles the key market players and analyses their core competencies in each sub-segment of the Japan recycled plastics market.

Driving Factors

The recycled plastics market in Japan is driven by the increasing awareness among consumers regarding environmental issues, stringent government regulations, and heightened corporate sustainability commitments. Technological developments in chemical recycling, AI-assisted sorting, and automation also enhance material quality and efficiency. The growth of the recycled plastics market will continue to accelerate because of the increasing demand for environmentally friendly packaging, automotive parts and construction materials, coupled with new collaborations between the public and private sectors, and the adoption of green certification programs.

Restraining Factors

The recycled plastics market in Japan is mostly constrained by high processing cost associated with recycled plastics, limited supply of quality recycled plastics, contamination of collected plastic waste, and competition from low-cost, virgin plastic products. The inability of the existing infrastructure, as well as the need to comply with regulations, are also barriers to increasing the market's growth momentum.

Market Segmentation

The Japan recycled plastics market share is classified into plastic type and application.

• The polyethylene terephthalate segment accounted for the largest revenue market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. 

The Japan recycled plastics market is segmented by plastic type into polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and others. Among these, the polyethylene terephthalate segment accounted for the largest revenue market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to PET's widespread use in consumer goods, food packaging, and beverage bottles, which makes it easy to collect and recycle. Its dominating revenue share is driven by its excellent recyclability, reliable material quality, and robust demand for environmentally friendly packaging.

• The packaging segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. 

The Japan recycled plastics market is segmented by application into building & construction, packaging, electrical & electronics, textiles, automotive, and others. Among these, the packaging segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. This is because bottles, food containers, and consumer goods packaging, all of which are easily recyclable, produce a large amount of plastic waste. The segment's market share and growth are further boosted by strong regulatory pressure, such as requirements for recycled content in packaging and rising consumer demand for eco-friendly, sustainable packaging.

Competitive Analysis:

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the Japan recycled plastics market, along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborate analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market.

List of Key Companies

• PLANIC
• J Circular system Corporation    
• Pana Chemical Co., Ltd.
• Sojitz Pla?Net Corporation           
• Shinnihon Replus Co., Ltd.           
• Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
• Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.      
• Teijin Limited    
• Toyobo Co., Ltd.
• Rengo Co., Ltd.
• Others

Key Target Audience

• Market Players
• Investors
• End-users
• Government Authorities 
• Consulting and Research Firm
• Venture capitalists
• Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

Recent Developments:

• In July 2025, a new facility was opened in Kamisu, Japan, by the Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) and the ENEOS Company (two oil and petrochemical companies), which uses Mura Technology's new water based recycling process to convert waste plastic into crude oil for making new plastics and other chemicals. The crude oil process will be used by MCC and ENEOS in their refineries and naphtha cracker for the manufacture of food and pharmaceutical packaging and many different organic and inorganic chemicals.
• In April 2025, the Sustainable Plastics Initiative (SusPla) announced a new certification programme (SPC) for verifying that recycled plastic has the quality and supply stability needed for commercial use.
• In March 2025, the J Circular System Corporation began large-scale operation at Japan's largest used plastics recycling plant in Kawasaki. The plant will be used to recycle 200 tons per day of used plastic, primarily using both chemical and material methods of recycling.
• In June 2024, the first chemical recycling facility for polystyrene (PS) in Japan was commissioned by Toyo Styrene, allowing the recovery of the monomer from post-consumer polystyrene.

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at the Japan, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2035. Decision Advisors has segmented the Japan recycled plastics market based on the below-mentioned segments:

Japan Recycled Plastics Market, By Plastic Type

• Polyethylene
• Polyethylene Terephthalate
• Polypropylene
• Polyvinyl Chloride
• Polystyrene
• Others

Japan Recycled Plastics Market, By Application

• Building & Construction
• Packaging
• Electrical & Electronics
• Textiles
• Automotive
• Others

FAQ’s

Q: What is the Japan recycled plastics market size?

A: Japan recycled plastics market size is expected to grow from USD 2846.2 million in 2024 to USD 7694.5 million by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 9.46% during the forecast period 2025-2035. 

Q: What are the key growth drivers of the market?

A: Market growth is driven by the increasing awareness among consumers regarding environmental issues, stringent government regulations, and heightened corporate sustainability commitments. In addition, technological advances in chemical recycling, AI assisted sorting and automation improve both efficiency and quality of materials. The growth of the recycled plastics market will continue to accelerate because of the increasing demand for environmentally friendly packaging, automotive parts and construction materials, coupled with new collaborations between the public and private sectors, and the adoption of green certification programs.

Q: What factors restrain the Japan recycled plastics market?

A: Constraints include by high processing cost associated with recycled plastics, limited supply of quality recycled plastics, contamination of collected plastic waste, and competition from low-cost, virgin plastic products.

Q: How is the market segmented by Plastic type?

A: The market is segmented into polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and others.

Q: Who are the key players in the Japan recycled plastics market?

A: Key companies include PLANIC, J Circular system Corporation, Pana Chemical Co., Ltd., Sojitz Pla?Net Corporation, Shinnihon Replus Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Teijin Limited, Toyobo Co., Ltd., Rengo Co., Ltd., and Others.

Q: Who are the target audiences for this market report?

A: The report targets market players, investors, end-users, government authorities, consulting and research firms, venture capitalists, and value-added resellers (VARs).