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Environmental efforts made by the Japanese paper industry

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Hazardous air pollutants measures

In accordance with the Guideline for the Promotion of Voluntary Control of Hazardous Air Pollutants by Business Entities (formulated in 1996), The Japanese Paper Association(JPA) formulated the Plan for Voluntary Control of Hazardous Air Pollutants with reference to the three substances of formaldehyde, chloroform, and benzene. The stringent voluntary control targets have been met by the introduction of substitute chemicals and process improvements.

VOC (volatile organic chemicals) measures

The JPA’s Committed Action Plan on the Environment calls for the “management of risks associated with chemical substance” as an issue to be addressed in the context of environmental risks. In the same context, JPA conducts a follow-up survey on the release of volatile organic chemicals (VOC).
Previously the voluntary control was on the five largest release substances: toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, and methanol. Staring with the FY2013 survey, all designated substances are covered (73 substances in the FY2023 survey).

Emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC)
Reduction rate (compared with fiscal 2000)

Source : Japan Paper Association Fiscal 2024 Follow-up Survey of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC)

Food container and packaging related measures

In response to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare instruction, JPA formulated its Voluntary Standards on Paper and Paperboard Intended to Come into Contact with Food with a view to ensuring the safety of paper containers and packaging for food in May 2007. The voluntary standards were put into practice in October of the same year and JPA invited related industries to formulate similar voluntary standards. In line with the trend in other advanced countries, JPA also created a database of chemicals (“the negative list”) on the internet, which is updated periodically. In this way, the Japanese paper industry strives to ensure the safety of paper products.