One of the first goods in Japan to be officially certified for environmental design, acknowledging their recyclability, are PET bottles used in the beverage sector. The new guidelines are intended to promote advancements in PET bottle design, including more recycled content and lightweight construction.

As part of the Design Guidelines for Plastic-Containing Products, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) formally published environmental design certification criteria for four types of plastic products on July 24, 2025. Among them, PET beverage bottles were identified as one of the first product categories that qualified. The Act for Recycling Plastic Materials created this certification system, which enables qualified ministers to honor goods with exceptional environmentally beneficial designs. Businesses must pass a thorough assessment, provide pertinent data, and adhere to the specified criteria in order to be certified. Under Japan’s Green Purchasing Law, certified goods will be advertised and possibly given assistance for recycling facilities.

Key Design Standards:

1. Bottle

(1) Composed entirely of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), with no additional ingredients. This is not the case, though, if the bottles that include materials other than PET are recyclable, safe, and hygienic.

(2) Not to be colored.

(3) The handle shall be made of uncolored PET or polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) with a specific gravity of less than 1.0.

(4) Nothing is to be printed on the bottle, except for the printing of minor labels such as expiration dates, manufacturer-specific codes, or lot numbers.

2. Label

(1) Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is not to be used.

(2) Can be separated from the bottle during the recycling process, such as through air classification or washing.

(3) The printing ink used for the label must not adhere to the bottle.

(4) Cannot use labels that are laminated with aluminum (Al).

3. Cap

(1) Do not use Al or PVC.

(2) Must use PE or PP with a specific gravity of less than 1.0 as the main raw material.

(3) If glass marble or packing is used, the method of removal must be clearly indicated on the label.

4. Weight limit

PET bottles must be below the weight reduction standards established based on capacity and intended use.

(1) Aseptic use

[weight reduction standards for aseptic use] = 0.139×[capacity (ml)] + 14.2

(2) Pressure-resistant use

[weight reduction standards for pressure-resistant use] = 0.0136×[capacity (ml)] + 17.2

(3) Heat and pressure-resistant use

[weight reduction standards for heat and pressure-resistant use] = 0.0178×[capacity (ml)] + 17.7

(4) Heat-resistant use

· [capacity (ml)] ≤ 500ml: [weight reduction standards for heat-resistant use] = 0.0164×[capacity (ml)] + 16.8

· 500ml < [capacity (ml)] ≤ 1500ml: [weight reduction standards for heat-resistant use] = 0.0235×[capacity (ml)] + 13.3

· 1500ml < [capacity (ml)]: [weight reduction standards for heat-resistant use] = 0.0098×[capacity (ml)] + 33.9

Notably, the percentage of the total weight of the relevant container consisting of the following materials must be 15% or more:

· Recycled plastics conforming to JIS Q 14021 7・8・1・1 a) 1),

· Recycled plastics conforming to JIS Q 14021 7・8・1・1 a) 2),

· Biomass plastics (defined as plastics made from organic materials derived from living organisms, excluding fossil resources

Design Certification Scheme:

Businesses must submit an application for a technical evaluation of conformance with the Plastic Product Design Guidelines to a government-designated inspection agency in order to receive design certification for plastic products. The agency does the evaluation and submits the findings to the government, which then decides whether to grant certification based on the documents that were presented.

Plastic products must adhere to safety, functionality, and other performance requirements relevant to their intended application under the design certification program. Businesses must, however, perform a thorough assessment of the environmental impact over the whole product life cycle when there is a trade-off between elements like structural design and material selection.

Following certification, enterprises are also obligated to ensure transparency by proactively disclosing key information, including:

· Product structure

· Methods for disassembling parts

· Material names of products and parts

· Methods for replacing parts

· Methods for repairing products and parts

· Methods for crushing or incinerating products and parts

· Methods for collecting and transporting products and parts

· Precautions to ensure safety and reduce environmental impact during disposal

Businesses must also set up an internal framework to guarantee the timely and accurate updating of this data. These specifications seek to encourage accountability in sustainable product design while assisting downstream recyclers and customers in making well-informed decisions.

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