'About Japan' webinar series 276: Waste Management in Japan, opportunities for EU SMEs

• How is Japan moving from conventional waste management and 3R policies towards a circular economy?
• What is the current market situation for municipal and industrial waste in Japan?
• Which regulatory frameworks, stakeholders and market structures shape Japan's waste and recycling sector?
• What technology and cooperation opportunities does the Japanese market offer to EU SMEs?
• What are the main obstacles to market entry, and which success factors should European companies consider?

Japan has a mature and highly regulated waste-management system, characterised by detailed source separation, advanced treatment infrastructure, limited landfill capacity and a strong role for municipalities and industry. At the same time, policy is shifting beyond the established 3R approach of reduce, reuse and recycle towards a broader circular-economy model that links resource security, decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness.

The webinar provides an up-to-date overview of municipal and industrial waste volumes, treatment routes and recycling performance. It examines market developments and technology trends across six important waste streams: organic waste, plastics, construction waste, hazardous waste, electronic devices, and metal and steel. It also explains the roles of ministries, municipalities, industry associations, research institutes, technology suppliers and potential customers.

For European companies, opportunities arise where innovative solutions can improve material recovery, sorting and treatment quality, reduce costs and emissions, address labour shortages, or support the recovery of critical raw materials. However, Japan is a demanding market with established domestic suppliers, complex approval and procurement structures, and high expectations regarding quality and long-term commitment. The webinar therefore combines market information with practical guidance on partnerships, distribution channels and market-entry strategy.

The webinar is targeted at: European SMEs and support organisations seeking to explore business and cooperation opportunities in Japan's waste-management, recycling and circular-economy sectors.

In 40 minutes from your desk, discover:

• Japan's policy and regulatory framework and its transition towards a circular economy
• Market size, waste flows, treatment routes and recycling performance
• Technology and market trends across six major waste streams
• Key stakeholders, major players, customers and distribution channels
• Business opportunities, market-entry barriers and success factors for EU SMEs

Programme:

• Introduction
• Expert’s presentation
• Q&A Session

Registration deadline: 30/11/2026

Speaker: Martin Volkmar is a graduate physicist (Dipl.-Ing.) with more than 35 years of professional experience in energy, environmental technology, factory automation and international project management. As Senior Project Manager at ECOS GmbH, he works on market and technology analyses and cooperation projects concerning sustainable technologies and business opportunities in Japan. His experience includes:

• Research and market studies in energy, environmental technology, resource efficiency and circular-economy topics
• Technical and strategic assessment of innovative solutions, policy frameworks and market opportunities
• Management of international projects and support for German-Japanese and European-Japanese cooperation

Moderator: Sofia Smerzi, Business Support Coordinator, EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation

Organiser: EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation - Brussels Office

Deliverables 

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