Tetsuro Fukushima

Representative Director & Managing Director Japan Audit and Certification Organization for Environment
(ANDOFUKUYOSHI Bld. 1-11-28 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107 Japan)

Abstract

Revisions in theWaste Management Law (Ministry of Health and Welfare) and the Recycling Law (MITI) have been legislated from the viewpoint or "reduction of waste" and "effective resource utilization" . The Recycling Law lists refrigerators, washing machines, television sets, air conditionersand automobiles as Class 1 products. The material composition of these productsindicates an annual increase in plastic contents, and from the viewpoint of waste reduction,it has become an urgent task to develop plastic recycling materials. On the other hand, in line with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), discussion is going on regarding an Eco-label, such as the Environmental Report Card using the LCA method. Waste and recycling are on the agenda as important environmental issues. This paper will discuss the trends in environmental management (ISO 14000), focusing on the Eco-label, recycling design, development of eco-compatible plastics and recycled products.

Key words: solid waste, recycling, LCA, eco-label, environmental management