Environmental Labeling of Packaging – Japan and South Korea

January 8, 2025

Packaging materials contribute significantly to waste throughout the product lifecycle. As sustainability becomes a priority for end users, proper recycling practices and labeling are critical.

However, navigating diverse regulations across markets can be challenging, especially when determining how packaging materials should be collected and labeled.

Deepen your knowledge of Japanese and South Korean markets, including how to effectively communicate packaging materials and their collection processes. Learn how these requirements can impact labeling and what they mean for your products in these key markets.

Japan

In Japan, the following acts were published to promote waste reduction and recycling, particularly for containers and packaging:

• The Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (Act No.48 of April 26, 1991)
• The Enforcement Order of the Act on Promotion of Effective Use of Resources (Cabinet Order No. 327, 2003)
• The Act on the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging (Act No. 112 of June 16, 1995)

The Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources introduced labeling requirements for Specified Labeled Products.

These are products for which sorted collection — separating materials by type for recycling — was deemed particularly necessary. This labeling helps to ensure that recyclable resources can be efficiently reused or disposed of, supporting the effective utilization of materials.

Under art.24 of the Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources, a competent minister was required to establish the following labeling requirements for specified labeled products through a specific order:

• Materials, ingredients or other matters must be indicated for sorted collection
• The labeling method and other requirements to be followed by businesses involved in manufacturing, processing or selling Specified Labeled Products

These labeling requirements apply specifically to containers and packages subject to recycling under the Act on the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging.

Focusing on containers and packaging, the following Ministerial Orders outline the standards for labeling Specified Labeled Products in this category:

• Ministerial Order on Specified Containers and Packaging as stipulated in Paragraph 6 Table 5 of the Order for Enforcement of the Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (Order of the MOF, MHLW, MAFF, METI No. 1 of 2001)
• Ministerial Order stipulating matters that should become the Standard for Labeling Specified Containers and Packaging (Order of the MoF, MHLW, MAFF, METI No. 2 of 2001)

Under these orders, specific types of containers and packaging are required to display an identification mark indicating the material composition. The following are subject to this labeling requirement:

• Containers and packaging made of plastic
• Containers and packaging made of paper (excluding paper cartons for beverages and alcoholic beverages (non-aluminum) and containers and packaging made of corrugated cardboard)
• PET bottles for beverages, alcoholic beverages and specific seasonings
• Iron (steel) cans for beverages and alcoholic beverages
• Aluminum cans for beverages and alcoholic beverages

In particular:

• For specified containers and packaging mainly or completely made of plastic (excluding PET bottles for beverages, liquors and soy sauce), the identification mark is as follows:
  
• For specified containers and packaging primarily or entirely made of paper (excluding paper cartons for beverages without aluminum and containers or packaging made of corrugated cardboard), the required mark is:
  
• For PET bottles for beverages, alcoholic beverages and specific seasonings, the mark is as follows:
  
• For steel cans for beverages and alcoholic beverages, the required mark is:
  
• For aluminum cans for beverages and alcoholic beverages, the mark is as follows:
  

Sources

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Ministerial Ordinance Stipulating Matters to Be Standards for Labeling Specific Containers

Identification marks must be printed, labeled or engraved directly onto the surface of the container or packaging.

The form, dimensions and proportions of these symbols are defined in the relevant Ministerial Orders.

For example, a Ministerial Order specifies the following requirements for identification marks on containers and packaging made of paper or plastic:

• The height of the relevant identification mark must be 6 mm or more for printing or labeling and 8 mm or more for embossing.
• The characters and symbols that make up the identification marks must be clear and distinguishable from the patterns and colors of the specified container or packaging. They should be easily identifiable to help ensure proper sorting and collection.
• The labeling must appear on one or more locations on the surface of the specified container or packaging.

For composite packaging, the identification mark to be displayed is determined by the heaviest material in the unit. For example, if a container or wrapping is made of plastic, aluminum and paper, and plastic accounts for the most weight, it is classified as primarily plastic packaging, and the plastic marking is displayed.

While there is no legal requirement to indicate the type of plastic used or the presence of other materials in the packaging, it is desirable to include this information. When provided voluntarily, the relevant Japanese standards, such as JIS K 6899-1200 (Symbols for materials), must be followed.

For packaging consisting of separable components (e.g., instant noodle cups with a lid, outer film and soup bag; shampoo bottles with cap and pump; or cake boxes with an inner bag and outer box), the identification mark must generally be placed directly on each component.

Alternatively, if the components are typically discarded at the same time, the identification marks for all components may be placed together on one component, provided the names of the components (referred to as “role names” in the regulations) are displayed near their respective marks.

Japanese language and characters must be used unless otherwise specified.

There are exemptions from recycling and/or labeling requirements under certain circumstances, including:

• Containers and packaging for industrial use, which are not subject to recycling and labeling requirements
• Glass containers, which are exempt from labeling requirements
• Steel and aluminum containers and packaging, which are exempt from both recycling and labeling requirements
• Paper packs for beverages and liquors (not using aluminum), which are exempt from recycling and labeling requirements but covered by a voluntary industry system
• Containers and packaging made of corrugated cardboard, also covered by a voluntary industry system
• Nonwoven fabric, cellophane or other materials not classified under the plastic category, which are exempt from labeling requirements

South Korea

The Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources serves as South Korea’s legal foundation for environmental preservation and sustainable economic development. It controls waste generation and promotes efficient recycling through regulatory measures and incentives.

It was originally published in 2002 and amended several times.

To promote the recycling of packaging waste, Article 14 mandates:

• The identification of certain product packaging as requiring separate collection marking, as defined by a Presidential Decree
• The definition of specific marking guidelines issued by the Minister of the Environment

The Presidential Enforcement Decree, mandated by the Act and revised most recently by Presidential Decree No. 34533 (2024), outlines the types of packaging requiring separate collection marking. These include:

• Paper packaging for specified food and non-food products with synthetic resin (plastic) or aluminum foil attached
• Glass bottles
• Metal cans
• Various packaging materials made of synthetic resin (plastics)
• Disposable shopping bags made of synthetic resin (excluding pay-as-you-go waste bags)
• Other packaging made of paper, metal, glass, or resin (plastic) materials designated by the Minister of Environment

The Ministry of Environment has published various versions of the separate collection marking system, with the most recent update partially revised by the Ministry of Environment Notice No. 2024-170.

The current version of the system can be summarized as follows:

1. General case [marking] (in Korean: "일반적인 경우"):
   
   In the marking example above, according to the guidelines, the symbol color is gray, representing the type of packaging (e.g., a beverage can); the word inside the symbol corresponds to the type of packaging (e.g.,"can" in Korean); the word below the symbol identifies the composition material (e.g., "iron” in Korean).
   
2. Cases that fall under ‘coating, bonding, etc.’ [marking] (in Korean: “도포ㆍ첩합 등’ 에 해당하는 경우”):
   

   
   The mark above applies to products or packaging materials as outlined in Article 18, Paragraph 1 of the Enforcement Presidential Decree. It is used in cases where other materials (metal, biodegradable resin, etc.) are mixed with the components, parts or materials of products or packaging that meet certain criteria.
   
   These other materials are attached through methods such as application (coating) or bonding (lamination) and cannot be separated from the corresponding component or part:
   • Paper packs where the weight of synthetic resin stoppers and miscellaneous materials exceeds 10% of the total weight
   • Polystyrene paper (PSP)
   • PET bottles
   • Other synthetic resin (plastic) containers and trays (excluding foamed synthetic resin packaging materials)

Source

Guidelines for Separate Discharge Labeling

Separate discharge labeling must be applied by printing, engraving or attaching a label on one or more surfaces of the packaging that requires labeling.

The Environmental Ministry’s Guidelines provide detailed specifications for the colors, shapes, proportions and dimensions of the marking. Key requirements include:

• The minimum size of the marking shall be 8 mm, excluding the material indication item below the symbol (where applicable).
• The marking must be in a contrasting color to the overall color of the product or packaging to help ensure easy identification. Standard colors are specified in the ministerial guidelines to align with the corresponding separate collection container for each type of packaging.

For reference, the following table (an unofficial translation from the guidelines) illustrates the meaning of the Korean letters within or alongside each marking, as well as the standard colors for illustrative purposes only.

The separate discharge marking must be placed on the front, side or bar code of the packaging. Placement should adhere to the following:

• The marking can be displayed up, down, left or right on the packaging material.
• If vertical or horizontal placement is not feasible due to the shape or structure of the packaging, it may be displayed on the bottom or lid.
• For multiple packaging materials with separable components, the separate discharge marking must be applied to each separable part or material.
• For composite packaging materials, specific requirements outlined in the applicable legislation must be followed.
• Certain types of packaging may be exempt from labeling requirements as specified in the legislation.

To ensure proper application of the marking and compliance with all requirements, businesses must adhere to the ministerial guidelines from the Environmental Ministry and any other applicable legislation.

Finally, it is important to note that the South Korean regulatory framework includes many other packaging-related requirements. These include but are not limited to:

• Extended Producer Responsibility obligations
• Self-assessment requirements for determining the recyclability grade of packaging materials

These topics are beyond the scope of this article but remain critical for businesses to consider when addressing compliance in South Korea.