Japan Bioplastics
Japan’s expanding bioplastics market presents a significant opportunity for U.S. resin manufacturers. With abundant agricultural feedstocks, established production capacity, and the ability to supply both biodegradable and non-biodegradable resins, U.S. companies are well positioned to help Japan address a substantial supply gap as it works toward its national bioplastics target.
Japan’s plastic production has been on a long-term decline since the late 1990s, driven by the contraction of the domestic petrochemical industry, the relocation of manufacturing overseas, and weakening domestic demand associated with the country’s population decline. However, in 2018 the Japanese government issued a policy guideline entitled, “Roadmap for Bioplastics Introduction” to establish a national target of displacing traditional plastic production with 2 million tons of bioplastic products by 2030.
From 2018 to 2023, Japan’s total bioplastics production increased almost fourfold, from 45,000 tons to approximately 183,000 tons according to the Japan BioPlastics Association. Of the 183,000 tons produced in 2023, approximately 79,000 tons were non-biodegradable bioplastics, while 104,000 tons were biodegradable bioplastics. This increase, while significant, falls far short of the country’s 2-million-ton goal.
Bioplastics fall into two categories: non-biodegradable and biodegradable. Non-biodegradable bioplastics are used in products that require high durability, such as packaging materials, textile fibers, electrical and electronic equipment, and automotive parts. In contrast, biodegradable plastics are utilized in agricultural and civil engineering materials, garbage bags, and packaging, taking advantage of their ability to decompose naturally in the environment after use.
Cost is widely regarded as the most significant challenge to the widespread adoption of bioplastics. In Japan, bioplastics are rarely produced from domestic biomass feedstocks; instead, bioplastic resins such as polylactic acid (PLA) and bio-based polyethylene (bio-PE) are typically imported and processed into finished products. The primary sources of these imports are Brazil, Thailand, and the United States.
As Japan works to reach its goal of producing two million tons of bioplastic products, the United States, with its abundant agricultural resources (such as corn and wheat) are well positioned to supply high quality, cost-competitive bioplastic resins (both non-biodegradable and biodegradable) to the Japanese market. The Commercial Service Japan encourages U.S. bioplastic resin manufacturers considering exports to Japan to closely monitor trends in Japan’s manufacturing sector and the progress of bioplastics adoption in the country.
American exporters looking to explore such opportunities may contact the U.S. Commercial Service in Japan at Office.Tokyo@trade.gov for more information.