The Japanese government has approved a comprehensive circular economy action plan aimed at strengthening domestic supply of recycled metals and reducing reliance on imported raw materials, according to local media reports.
The strategy targets around JPY 1 trillion ($7 billion) in combined public and private investment by 2030 and positions resource recycling as a key pillar of economic security and industrial competitiveness.
For steel, the government plans to expand the availability of high-grade scrap used in low-emission “green steel” production. Processing capacity for such scrap will be increased by approximately 2 million mt per year, alongside stronger collection systems for industrial scrap and manufacturing offcuts.
Tokyo has also set clear targets to increase the share of recycled inputs, recycled aluminum is expected to account for about 40 percent of domestic rolled aluminum production by 2030. The plan also includes investment in recycling infrastructure, including advanced sorting technologies and expanded processing and smelting capacity, to improve material quality and efficiency.
Japan’s move reflects tightening global supply dynamics, with major economies stepping up efforts to secure both primary and secondary raw materials. By scaling up recycled metals supply, Tokyo aims to strengthen supply chain resilience and support its transition toward lower-carbon industrial production.
