Introduction
Have you ever heard of the Green Purchasing Law (GPP)? This is a set of rules for national and local governments to prioritize environmentally friendly products and services when making purchases.
While private companies are not directly obligated, there is a reality that the standards for large companies and public projects tend to spread to private procurement. In fact, an increasing number of companies are establishing internal regulations that state they will "select in accordance with GPP".
In the revision of January 2025, the "specified procurement items" covered expanded to 22 fields and 288 items. In this article, we will briefly cover the basics of GPP, then organize the changes for 2025 and how to apply them in practice.
Corporate Novelty Gifts
If you're going to give out company novelty items, you want something that is long-lasting and sparks conversation. Think Scrap also offers novelty item support.
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Use: Guest gifts / Recruitment & Anniversary gifts / Internal distribution
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Material Features: Seatbelt remnants = high strength, abrasion resistance → long-lasting = indirectly contributes to waste reduction.
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Long-term use: Reduced frequency of replacement → aligns with the concept of waste reduction.
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Utilization of remnants: Waste avoidance → reduces resource loss.
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Compatibility with Green Purchasing principles: Aligns with the priority of longevity, reuse, and recycling.
Learn more here ↓
Novelty items – Think Scrap Seatbelt Remnant Upcycle Bag Brand
What is the Green Purchasing Law?
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National procurement standards:
The "Basic Policy" is the rulebook for environmental standards when national and local governments make purchases. It clearly specifies the target items(what to buy) and the selection criteria(what standards to meet).
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Annual updates:
Target items and numerical values are reviewed annually. The latest revision is in January 2025.
Impact on the private sector:
The specifications required for large-scale and public projects are often incorporated into internal rules and RFPs (Requests for Proposal), leading to their adoption in private sector procurement.
Key points for 2025: What are the contents of the 22 fields and 288 items?
1) Making the "two-tier standard" user-friendly on-site
・Standard 1 (higher environmental performance):
It has been clarified that "active procurement is to be made as long as there is no disruption to supply." In other words, if there are no problems with delivery time, specifications, or quantity, the principle is to first choose Standard 1.
Example: If the delivery date cannot be met, the required functions, safety, or quality cannot be satisfied, or stable supply cannot be guaranteed, it will be judged as "disruption to supply."
・Standard 2 (minimum standard):
While using it as a temporary standard, the goal is to transition to Standard 1 as soon as possible once the market and technology are ready.
2) Main changes for each item
・Paper stationery
We will evaluate certified forest pulp and thinned wood pulp equally to recycled paper pulp. This makes it easier to substitute certified materials even when there is a shortage of recycled paper.
・Imaging equipment (printers/multifunction devices/faxes/scanners)
The use of recycled/reused plastic parts has been added to the criteria (e.g., guidelines such as 5g or more, and 1% or more of the plastic weight). The use of Eco-labels and disclosure of quantitative environmental information were also organized as requirements and considerations.
・Automobiles
Fuel efficiency standards have been revised (e.g., raising the achievement level for hybrid vehicles, adjusting buses and trucks to 95% of the FY2025 fuel efficiency standards, etc.). The procurement specification thresholds will be updated.
・Services (printing, cafeterias, etc.):
New two-tier standards have been established for printing, and cafeterias have been revised to include clearer labeling (e.g., visual displays). Using the printing process checklist will streamline operations.
Key points for operation?
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Standard 1: Higher environmental performance. Prioritize procurement if there are no impediments.
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Standard 2: Minimum standard. While maintaining this, aim to transition to Standard 1 as soon as possible.
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Examples of impediments: products meeting Standard 1 cannot be delivered on time, cannot meet required performance, unstable supply… etc.
Think Scrap (seat belt remnants) positioning
Seatbelt remnants possess high strength and excellent abrasion resistance. Furthermore, since they are easy to construct primarily from a single material, they are compatible with recycling designs that assume sorting and resource recovery, making it easier to promote circular manufacturing from the design stage. Moreover, by utilizing remnant materials generated during manufacturing to avoid waste, resource waste can be reduced. When combined with a design that allows for long-term use, the frequency of repurchases can be suppressed, ultimately contributing to waste reduction. Due to these characteristics, it is suitable for corporate novelties and business supplies that require durability, and the longer the actual use, the greater the environmental value accumulated.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Do the "criteria for judgment" of GPP apply to novelties?
A: There is no direct legal obligation. However, public and major procurement standards are increasingly referenced in internal regulations and RFPs. Proactively designing and evidencing "long-term use, reuse, recycled materials, and quantitative information (CFP, etc.)" will improve the ease of B2B proposals and ESG alignment.
Q2: What is 3R + Renewable?
A: This concept adds **Renewable (utilization of renewable resources)** to the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). The selection of materials is carefully considered **from the design stage**.
Q3: How can this be shown numerically?
A: **Long-term use** can be shown through durability tests and warranty periods, while **remnant material utilization** can be estimated by "amount of waste avoided" (number of shipments x weight of remnant material). **Clear documentation of the basis** is crucial.
References
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Ministry of the Environment | Green Purchasing Law Basic Policy Page (Japanese)
https://www.env.go.jp/policy/hozen/green/g-law/net/kihonhoushin.html
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Ministry of the Environment | Green Procurement Buyer's Guide (February 2025) [PDF]
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(Reference) Priority of Circularity (3R): Concept of the Basic Act for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society (Ministry of the Environment)
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Ministry of the Environment | Green Purchasing Law Q&A (Definition of two-stage criteria, examples of "impediments to procurement")
- Ministry of the Environment (Materials) | Overview of Information Provision for Articles Using Steel as Raw Material [PDF] https://www.env.go.jp/content/000291940.pdf
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific applicability and the latest operational details, please always refer to the most current information.
Last Confirmed: 2025-09-12 (JST)
