We are just starting toward a sound material-cycle society as representing of eco-logo in each country.

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1 2. What is a sound material-cycle society? What are the 3Rs? We are just starting toward a sound material-cycle society as representing of eco-logo in each country. 2-1 From a Scientific Perspective What is the situation of material cycle from the broader perspective of economic activities and social life (macro-perspective)? Read more From a macro point of view, that materials will run out after use is a commonly accepted understanding. The concept of consumption = run out or exhaustion seems to prevail as a general way of thought. In other words, the image of mechanical or industrial production has only a one-way flow: raw material production/processing use/consumption waste. But the image of recycling seldom occurs to us in the context of economic activities and social lifestyles. As well, organic/agricultural production lends an image of the material cycle that is interdependent with the ecosystem, and that is represented by the inherent cleansing power of nature and biological-cycle power seen in the food chain. Today, however, the comprehensive image of socio-economic activities seems to be largely identified with the irreversible image of mechanical and industrial production. Aside from socio-economic activities, circulation can also be seen in the natural world, such as atmospheric circulation and ocean whirls. By nature, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is balanced within the closed system of the earth, which is attributable to various cycles such as photosynthesis by plants, absorption into the sea, and solidification (coral reefs

2 upheaval/metamorphism limestone mountains). Then, how about the situation of material cycle from a narrower perspective (micro-perspective)? Read more From a micro perspective, substances continue to exist on micro or atomic levels even after consumption. This is called the Law of the conservation of mass-energy in Newtonian mechanics: Although substances change in shape, their existence does not change in itself. Substances continue to exist by changing at the molecular level and in their composition, property and character, or are dispersed through production and consumption activities. Furthermore, natural reactions, or activities in a broader sense, are irreversible and move towards disorder. In order to recover from this disorder, efforts (mental) and energy (physical) must be expended and consumed. In other words, the energy difference needs to be overcome in order to restore substances to its former state. Read more For example, hot and cold substances gradually become cool and warm, respectively, when introduced into the atmosphere. Heat tends to diffuse when left undistributed and moves towards diffusion naturally. This concept is called the Law of entropy increase, which states that natural world tends towards disorder by nature. But this means that the essential quality of substances does not change. Thus the input of energy is required to restore substances from the state of entropy increase (example: a state with many substances mixed, damaged, degraded, etc.) to the original state of materials and products. Production activities Resources (Raw material) Products Industrial waste Consumption activities Waste Overcoming the energy difference Here, we divide the term Cycle into 2 categories. Natural material cycle: Circulation

3 Arbitrary material cycle: RecyclingRead more When considering the state of dispersion, if waste is regarded as the ultimate state of dispersing substances through consumption, the potential of their circulation (through natural clarification, natural cycles or reversibility) and recycling (through human activities) in a limited time span reduces in proportion to the complexity and diversity of production activities and mass consumption. Here, let s define the natural material cycle as circulation and the material cycle with the help of humans as recycling. Products Resources -Circulated products -Recycled products -Reuse Wastes Natural recovery Circulation Recovery by humans Recycling Recycling of cans and glass bottles 2-2 From an awareness and social perspective What kind of awareness is required from individuals to establish a sound material-cycle society? Though you should have various ideas, they could be summarized into two types: Mottainai feeling (Note: mottainai is a Japanese phrase which literally means What a waste! or Too good to waste. ) and Awareness of regional environmental improvement with room to move or grow in terms of educational and economic status. Read more A Mottainai feeling B Awareness of regional environmental improvement with room to move or grow in terms of educational and economic status

4 First and foremost, it is important to promote (B) while possessing (A). Though (A) can naturally occur, (B) must be a consciously choice. By mobilizing these two types of awareness, for example, the separated collection of waste can be thoroughly implemented. While the institutionalization of actions through laws and ordinances is important, it is also critical to foster a social environment that encourages individuals to have both types of awareness. Above photo: Dr. Wangari Maathai, Assistant Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kenya, is known for her Mottainai Movement Meanwhile, what policy criteria or awareness is required for a nation--a collective entity of individuals--to establish a sound material-cycle society? This could also be summarized into two types of awareness, that is, awareness of countermeasures against resource depletion and effective utilization of resources, and awareness of a global-scale reduction in environmental pollution to achieve sustainability. Read more (A) Awareness of countermeasures against resource depletion and effective utilization of resources (B) Awareness of global-scale reduction in environmental pollution to achieve sustainability As seen in China where the transition to recycling economy is actively being promoted, conventional material exporters are now becoming consumer countries, or even importers behind a backdrop of rapid economic development. Apprehension about resource depletion in our own regions or countries is the motivating force behind the urging of those countries to shift from wasteful economic policies (i.e. policies that prioritize production increases over resource saving and efficiency) to an awareness of countermeasures against resource depletion and effective utilization of resources.

5 Meanwhile, the separated collection of waste is promoted through governmental initiatives in Japan, largely due to the lack of disposal sites and the promotion of environmental improvement policies rather than the problem of resource depletion. Within the international community, there is a growing call to reduce CO2 emissions and establish a sound material-cycle society so that sustainability based on the Kyoto Protocol can be maintained beyond generations. In this sense, European countries and Japan are mainly taking an approach which encompasses the idea of global-scale reduction in environmental pollution to achieve sustainability, as seen in the catch phrase of One Precious Earth. However, both types of awareness in (A) and (B) are closely connected. Policy formation with the aim of solving the problem of resource depletion, as well as supporting and sustaining the economy, should be pursued, and then global environmental improvement and sustainability would be taken into account in the development and implementation of policies. By utilizing both approaches, the establishment of a sound material-cycle society will be able to get on track smoothly. To put it in another way, we all know that natural resources are limited and their economic values rise as the remaining amount diminishes. As long as natural resources are endlessly consumed,,conditions to procure them will become more and more difficult, which will, in turn, raise their prices. By arbitrarily or politically promoting resource saving and the establishment of recycling economies, future prices of natural resources will gradually rise, and sustainable social and economic activities will be upheld even if the recycling economy has no immediate economic effects. Though these approaches are in accordance with economic principles and provide much motivation, they would also have limitations. Ideal awareness for the establishment of a sound material-cycle society Mottainai feeling Awareness of regional environmental improvement with room to move or grow in terms of educational and economic status Awareness of measures against resource depletion Awareness of global-scale reduction in environmental pollution to achieve sustainability Though these approaches have ideals to be pursued, they do not provide much motivation and could result in mere philosophy.

6 Change in fossil fuel consumption Change in carbon emissions caused by fossil fuel combustion Change in CO2 concentrations *Source: Worldwatch Institute 2-3 Perspectives on the sound material-cycle society and positioning of the 3Rs in solid waste management A sound material-cycle society is not an age-old concept. It is open to various interpretations from different technological and social-scientific perspectives. The ideal sound material-cycle society should be is discussed in the context of people s lifestyles (consumption) and economic activities (production). Each country or region has its own specific issues in building a sound material-cycle society. But here, let s look at a sound material-cycle society from a broader perspective: How is it related to the 3Rs? Read more sound material-cycle society is a newly-coined term, and there is ambiguity in its interpretation. In China, for example, the term Recycling-oriented economy is the mainstream term, indicating that the concept is in line with the economic system in practical, rather than philosophical, terms. The Chinese interpretation does not differentiate in terms of the basic sense that it aims to achieve high social and economic effects by means of efficient resource utilization, environmental protection, reduction in resource consumption and environmental cost. The 3Rs are intended mainly to curb waste generation and effectively use waste. However the 3Rs should be recognized here as an extensive part of measures to establish a sustainable society, and includes energy, water resources and ecosystems.

7 Are the 3Rs regarded as a priority in Japan? Why? Read more A sound material-cycle society tends to be simply explained as the reduction or recycling of solid waste: the 3Rs. Meanwhile, Cleaner Production has been carried out mainly in the industrial world under the slogan of energy saving triggered by the first oil crisis in the 1970s. Though Cleaner Production is not attracting much attention at the moment since it is already widely recognized, it also constitutes a significant factor in the establishment of a sound material-cycle society in a broader sense. Equally, protection of the global ecosystem plays an important role in the promotion of a sound material-cycle society by maintaining the Earth s ideal condition and its natural circulation capacity.

8 2-4 The 3Rs and Environmental Issues The following figure shows three keywords related to a sound material-cycle society: resources, waste and the environment, as well as their problems and cross-cutting issues. The figure indicates that there is a wide variety of current issues--from conventional environmental pollution at the local or regional level, to environmental problems at the global level, those caused by waste, and complexity concerning the sustainable use of resources, among others. Global environmental issues Related to Industry/Production Global warming Acid rain Ozone depletion Marine pollution Transboundary movement of hazardous waste Residual organic pollutants Environmental problems of natural ecosystem Decrease in tropical rainforests Decrease in wildlife species Desertification Pollution issues in developing countries Issue of CO2 emissions in incineration Issue of waste / The 3Rs (Toward recycling-oriented economic system) Regional environmental issues Issue of dioxin in incineration Energy Saving with the 3Rs Reduced CO2 emissions Energy saving and resource saving with the 3Rs Issue of energy and resource saving Conventional industrial pollution issues Air pollution Water contamination Soil contamination Noise, vibration and offensive odor Ground subsidence Environmental problems of natural ecosystem Destruction of domestic natural environment Problem of chemical substances Urban / living environmental issues Energy saving Energy saving New energy sources Alternative energy Resource saving Minimization of energy / resource input Reduce Reuse Recycle Appropriate intermediate treatment(countermeasures against dioxin, heavy metals, hazardous waste, etc.) Minimization of final disposal Source Clean Japan Center