JP Green Purchasing Act — 2025 Revision of the Basic Policy
ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE
Approved by the Cabinet February 2025, applied from April 1, 2025
Overview
This is the fiscal year 2025 periodic revision of the "Basic Policy" under the Act on Promoting Green Purchasing, which sets the procurement policy for government agencies, independent administrative agencies, and other public bodies. To accelerate the transition toward a decarbonized society, a circular economy, and nature positive outcomes, the judgment criteria for specified procurement items are being strengthened, including higher targets for recycled plastic content, requirements to calculate and disclose a product's life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (carbon footprint), and tighter restrictions on the content of hazardous chemical substances such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
Enforcement Timeline
Autumn to winter 2024: The Ministry of the Environment and related ministries hold item-by-item review meetings and a public comment period.
February 2025: The revision to the Basic Policy is approved by the Cabinet.
April 1, 2025: The fiscal year 2025 Basic Policy takes effect, with each ministry and agency formulating its fiscal year 2025 procurement policy based on it.
Business Impact
Suppliers to government agencies, local governments, and national university corporations, such as manufacturers of office equipment, stationery, uniforms and workwear, building materials, vehicles, and IT and cloud services, face a serious risk of losing eligibility to bid on public contracts if they fail to meet the revised judgment criteria. Because the revised standards are also widely referenced as a benchmark for green procurement criteria at private companies, they function as a supply chain selection requirement across the broader B2B market.