Japan Recycles Bullshit from 2007

[GuyJean]

Paper Scandal Points to Shortcomings of Japan Inc
http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080118/tbs-japan-scandals-9a48464.html

Corporate scandal after scandal dominated headlines in Japan last year and so far 2008 is no different, as major paper makers admit paper sold as recycled was not really recycled...

The latest scandal involves New Year greeting cards, which Japanese send by the billion each year. Nippon Paper Group Inc and Oji Paper Co Ltd admitted this week that cards they had sold as being recycled paper had almost no recycled content -- and the practice had been going on for more than a decade...

GJ

[Captain Japan]

New panel to tackle recycled paper falsification
Japan Times

The Japan Paper Association will form a panel to set criteria for the component ratios of waste paper to be used in recycled paper products and for ways to clearly display them to consumers.

The association made the decision at its first board meeting since it was revealed that numerous papermakers, including the top six companies, have been exaggerating the amount of waste paper used in their recycled paper products.

Association officials said there are no clear-cut mandatory definitions for recycled paper, such as the percentage of waste paper that should be contained to allow a product to be described as "recycled paper."

The lack of mandatory definitions has allowed products containing only a small percentage of used paper to be marketed as recycled....more...

[Captain Japan]

[kamome]

Are they trying to take advantage of some sort of tax credit by claiming to use recycled paper when in fact they weren't?

[GuyJean]

Are they trying to take advantage of some sort of tax credit by claiming to use recycled paper when in fact they weren't?

I haven't heard anything like that, but you're right; why proclaim it if there isn't some monetary benefit?.. Or is it just the crusty tatemae, 'feel-good-about-ouselves' pressure bullshit?

GJ

[Mulboyne]

The government set a quota for using recycled paper in official business so there was an incentive for the paper companies to develop a line to meet that demand.