Tokyo: Japan's Environment Ministry is taking a significant step towards addressing the pressing issue of clothing waste in households by planning to compile an action plan by March. This initiative aims to tackle the substantial amounts of clothing waste that are currently being disposed of across the country.

According to Philippines News Agency, the forthcoming action plan will outline specific measures for consumers, local governments, and businesses to follow. The focus is on encouraging the efficient use of secondhand clothing and advocating for the production and consumption of appropriate clothing volumes. This is part of a broader effort to shift away from the current trend of mass production and consumption of apparel.

The ministry's estimates, based on data for 2024, reveal that households in Japan purchased a staggering 770,000 tons of clothing within the year. Of this, 480,000 tons ended up as waste, with approximately 510,000 tons either incinerated or sent to landfills, including some recovered clothing. The reuse of secondhand clothing and recycling of fibers from discarded garments have been notably sluggish, primarily due to an underdeveloped reuse market and the challenges associated with recycling diverse fiber materials used in clothing production.

As Japan's Environment Ministry prepares this action plan, it is clear that addressing clothing waste requires concerted efforts across various sectors to promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact.