Global Initiatives for Used Product Recycling
For the purpose of efficient use of natural resources and prevention of environmental pollution, many countries around the world have been enacting recycling laws and developing their recycling systems. Examples include: the Law for Recycling of Specified Kinds of Home Appliances (Home Appliance Recycling Law) and the Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources in Japan, the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive in the European Union, and recycling-related laws in many states in the United States as well as in China. In addition to complying with the Basel Convention which controls the transfer of hazardous waste to non-OECD countries as well as with related laws in respective countries, the Panasonic Group strives to establish the most efficient recycling system in each country that is in line with its local recycling infrastructure, including the utilization of third parties.
Product recycling results in fiscal 2025 are as shown below. As for the situation outside Japan, the decrease in the weight of collected items resulted in a downward trend for many years.
FY2025 Results
Japan Processed approx. | 140.8 kt of four kinds of used home appliances |
USA Collected approx. | 211 t of used electronic products |
Product Recycling Initiatives in Japan
In response to the Home Appliance Recycling Law of 2001, which covers four specified kinds of home appliances*1, manufacturers were grouped into two groups, Group A and Group B, to collect and recycle the four specified kinds of used home appliances. We belong to Group A, and to work on recycling, we have established Ecology Net Co., Ltd. jointly with Toshiba Corporation to operate and manage a geographically dispersed recycling network through the effective use of existing recycling facilities nationwide. This management company supervises 319 designated collection sites (shared by Group A and Group B) and 30 recycling plants, based on consignment from Group A manufacturers (17 companies including the Panasonic Group).
Additionally, we invest in Panasonic Eco Technology Center Co., Ltd. (PETEC), Panasonic Eco Technology Kanto Co., Ltd. (PETECK), and Chubu Eco Technology Co., Ltd. (CETEC)*2 and exchange information with product manufacturing divisions to develop easy-to-recycle designs, as well as conducts research and development to efficiently recover and supply more resources. In fiscal 2025, we recycled approx. 140.8 kt of the four specified used home appliances.
Although the statutory recycling rate*3 is being raised in phases, our recycling plants have been achieving recycling rates higher than the legal requirement by reviewing and improving recycling equipment and processes in view of the characteristics and materials of respective products as well as higher recycling efficiency.
To address the challenges facing the home appliance recycling industry, our group has begun to develop technologies to mechanize dismantling operations that require much manual labor.
We have developed the Automatic Dismantling System for Dismantled Home Appliances, focusing on air conditioner outdoor units, which are expected to increase in the amount collected.
While maintaining the quality of disassembly for each part, the process from the cover of the outdoor unit to the removal of the compressor, which takes the most time in the disassembly process, is automated. To automate the process from the cover of an outdoor unit to the removal of a compressor. This enables more stable and continuous recycling of home appliances.
As for PETEC, it promotes high grade single-plastic recycling using plastic recognition equipment.
See Enhanced Use of Recycled Resin for more details.
*1 Air conditioners, TVs, refrigerators/freezers, and washing machines/clothes dryers.
*2 PETEC is a company fully invested by the Panasonic Group, and PETECK and CETEC are joint ventures between Mitsubishi Materials Corporation and the Panasonic Group.
*3 Statutory recycling rate = Recycling rate specified by law (Valuable resource weight/Total weight of used home appliances).
The statutory recycling rates were raised in 2009 and 2015, and are currently at least: 80% for air conditioners, 55% for CRT TVs, 74% for LCD, Organic EL and plasma TVs, 70% for refrigerators and freezers, and 82% for washing machines and clothes dryers.
Efforts in the Europe / CIS Region
WEEE Directive and Circular Economy
WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
The WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU is a piece of European Union legislation aimed at reducing the environmental impact of electrical and electronic waste. It promotes the reuse, recycling, and recovery of such waste and places responsibility for disposal on producers. Panasonic has proactively developed solutions to all these requirements. Panasonic has a very diverse product range in Europe and to manage our WEEE compliance across the EU, it has been our policy to register directly with appropriate recycling schemes in countries where we have legal company presence. This means that in every country where we have a legal presence, dedicated recycling solutions are in place to support the efficient collection and recycling of our products, helping valuable resources re-enter the production cycle and contribute to new products.
Looking ahead, Europe is expected to publish proposals in 2026 for the revision of the WEEE Directive. We are closely monitoring these developments to proactively adapt and strengthen our recycling solutions. By staying ahead of regulatory changes, we aim to continue providing efficient, future-ready recycling programs for our customers and consumers across Europe while further supporting the transition to a circular economy.
Circular Economy
Circular Economy is the key driving factor for future waste legislations in Europe. Recycled content becomes increasingly important in Europe and will be more and more included into national laws and tender processes. If products don't meet certain Circular Economy criteria, the recycling fees will increase. If products are easy to recycle, contain recycled material, easy to repair, etc., the recycling fees will decrease. Panasonic is considering how to prepare our business for such new recycled material requirements.
Looking Ahead
Panasonic's journey into the circular economy has proven that a multinational company can adapt to an age where sustainability isn't a side goal but a central strategy.
With evolving EU legislation, including mandatory recycled content targets and right-to-repair laws, Panasonic is poised to expand its circular practices even further.
Efforts in North America
The Panasonic Group continues its leadership role in establishing and operating a recycling system for waste batteries and consumer electronic products in North America. Following the startup of a state recycling law in Minnesota in July 2007, we established the Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company, LLC (MRM), jointly with Toshiba Corporation and Sharp Corporation in September of the same year, and began recycling TVs, PCs, and other electronic equipment.
With collaborative ties to over 40 recycling companies, MRM operates collection programs on behalf of numerous companies across 20 states and the District of Columbia. The cumulative total of collection by MRM has exceeded 1.7 billion lbs. (approximately 771 kt) since its inception in 2007.
As for waste batteries, we established Call2Recycle*4 in 1994 jointly with other battery manufacturers, which now provide recycling programs for primary and rechargeable batteries throughout the US and Canada. Call2Recycle provides collection program and a robust retail collection network for over 400 companies, and collected more than 307 M pounds of primary and rechargeable batteries in the US and Canada since the organization's inception.
Recycling end-of-life products in Canada started in 2004 with the Alberta Government Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulation. Since then a total of ten provinces and two territories have legislated WEEE, each with their own unique parameters and requirements. In an effort to harmonize these programs, Panasonic Canada takes an active role in the governance of the Electronic Product Recycling Association, a not-for-profit management organization. EPRA collected 0.137 kt's of electronics in Ontario.
*4 In the United States, the name was changed to The Battery Network in January 2026.
Efforts in China
In China, the collection of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Treatment Fund—originally established under the Regulations on the Administration of the Recycling and Disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products, which had been in place since 2012—was officially suspended as of January 1, 2024. Moving forward, subsidies for waste appliance treatment providers will be financed through the national general public budget, primarily funded by tax revenues.
In response to this shift, we are actively monitoring and considering appropriate measures in light of several related policy developments. These include the government's Promotion Plan for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) System, announced in January 2017, and the Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste, which came into effect in September 2020. Additionally, since 2022, a pilot program known as the Target Responsibility System for Waste Appliance Collection has been underway, involving six major local home appliance manufacturers. More recently, the government launched the Old-for-New policy for consumer goods in 2024, further signaling a shift in the regulatory landscape. These developments are being closely examined as we evaluate our future approach.
Efforts in Southeast Asia and Oceania
Vietnam
The Law on Environmental Protection 2020 sets out requirements for a wide range of environmental issues, including the enhancement of e-waste management in Vietnam. The Government has also issued "Decree 08/2022 Detailing a Number of Articles of the Law on Environmental Protection" and "Circular 02/2022/QD-TTg Detailing the Implementation of a Number of Articles of the Law on Environmental Protection," which took effect since January 10, 2022 and requires producers/ importers to contribute financially for waste treatment of primary batteries from January 1, 2022. Panasonic Sales Vietnam (PSV) has actively engaged in compliance efforts since, including timely financial contributions to support waste treatment for primary batteries and operational adjustments to meet evolving environmental regulations.
On January 06, 2025, the Government issued "Decree No. 05/2025/NĐ-CP," which further details and supplements provisions related to extended producer responsibility (EPR) under the Law on Environmental Protection. This Decree expands requirements for producers and importers to contribute financially or self-manage e-waste recycling for rechargeable batteries and other electronic products. The recycling cost norm (Fs) for a unit weight of in-scope product or packaging has also been released under "Circular No. 07/2025/TT-BTNMT," which took effect since February 28, 2025.
Most recently, Decree No. 110/2026/NĐ-CP, effective from May 25, 2026, provides detailed guidance on EPR implementation, marking a significant step in completing Vietnam's legal framework on recycling and waste management. It clarifies the scope of products subject to recycling obligations, which include electrical and electronic equipment and rechargeable batteries, and establishes a more transparent mechanism for the management and disbursement of financial contributions to the Vietnam Environment Protection Fund (VEPF).
Between April 2025 and March 2026, PSV successfully collected a cumulative total of over 19,520 kg of e-waste, which was sent to licensed vendors for recycling and treatment. This achievement reflects PSV's ongoing commitment to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and to promote sustainable practices in electronic product lifecycle management.
PSV has also taken action to submit the necessary product import and financial contribution declarations to the Vietnamese government as required under "Decree No. 05/2025/NĐ-CP" and "Decree No. 110/2026/NĐ-CP". PSV will continue to work closely with the government to support the implementation of an effective waste treatment and e-waste recycling scheme in Vietnam.
Australia
The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) was established in Australia in 2011. Effective since 1 July 2021, the NTCRS has been superseded by the Recycling and Waste Reduction (Product Stewardship –Televisions and Computers) Rules 2021 made under the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020, which will provide a new legislative framework to manage waste, recycling and product stewardship. Currently, the national framework covers televisions and computers, including printers, computer parts and peripherals.
Panasonic Australia (PAU) partnered with E-cycle Solutions, a co-regulatory arrangement approved by the Australian government to fulfill its obligation under the national scheme, since May 2021. Between January 2025 and December 2025, 26 tonnes of e-waste were recycled.
Since April 2021, PAU has also joined the Battery Stewardship Council (BSC) as a full member. As part of the obligations as a member, PAU has also been contributing to recycling costs for batteries imported, including 124 tonnes of batteries imported between January to December 2025.
Singapore
The Resource Sustainability Act introduced in Singapore in 2020 requires producers of regulated consumer products to join the licensed Producer Responsibility Scheme (PRS), which started in July 2021. For Compliance Year 5 (July 2025 - June 2026), a Collection Target of 60% (of weight supplied) was set for regulated Large Household Appliances (LHAs) and 20% for Portable Batteries. Panasonic Singapore has been working closely with the authorities and PRS operator to ensure the smooth implementation of the PRS. For Compliance Year 5 year-to-date (July 2025 – February 2026), a total of 6,402 tonnes of regulated e-waste were collected by the PRS operator, of which LHAs comprised of 92.8% by weight.
Other Countries in Southeast Asia and Oceania
Regulators in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and New Zealand are also gearing towards the global trend of mandating end-of-life product recycling. Discussions with regulators and industry bodies are in progress. We hope to contribute to the formulation of sustainable e-waste management policy in each country through engagement with local governments and industry associations and participation in pilot recycling projects.
Efforts in India
Panasonic India has significantly strengthened its environmental sustainability framework in alignment with the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The company has established a robust Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, ensuring structured collection, environmentally sound recycling, and regulatory compliance across the entire product lifecycle.
During the financial year, Panasonic India scaled its waste management operations and successfully facilitated the recycling of approximately 23,000 metric tonnes (MT) of e-waste, 34 MT of battery waste, and 3,000 MT of plastic waste. These initiatives are enabled through a strong network of CPCB-authorized recyclers and supported by the company's "I Recycle" program, which encourages consumers to responsibly dispose of end-of-life products. Awareness efforts are further amplified through the Harit Umang (Joy of Green) Program, driving behavioral change towards sustainable consumption.
Panasonic India continues to strengthen its take-back and collection ecosystem by providing nationwide channels for returning end-of-life products such as televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines. All collected materials are processed through authorized recyclers, ensuring safe dismantling, material recovery, and environmentally compliant disposal of hazardous components. Transparency and traceability are maintained through digital tracking systems and timely submission of statutory returns on the CPCB EPR portal.
The organization actively engages with key industry bodies, including the Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Through these platforms, Panasonic contributes to policy advocacy, development of scalable recycling infrastructure, and constructive dialogue with the Government of India on EPR implementation and challenges.
In addition, Panasonic drives awareness through targeted campaigns such as International E-Waste Day. A recent flagship initiative at the Gurugram head office resulted in the collection of approximately 900 kg of e-waste, demonstrating the effectiveness of consumer engagement programs in diverting waste from landfills.
Through these integrated initiatives, Panasonic India continues to advance circular economy principles, enhance resource efficiency, and reduce environmental impact. These efforts are aligned with Panasonic's global Green Impact vision, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, decarbonization, and responsible manufacturing.
Efforts in Latin America
As environmental regulations become stricter across Latin America, countries are discussing new recycling laws and how to enforce them effectively.
Brazil, Peru and Colombia Recycling Activities
Across Brazil, Peru and Colombia, recycling activities are mainly focused on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), supported by national regulations based on extended producer responsibility, reverse logistics and environmentally sound treatment of used products. Panasonic participates in collective systems and industry initiatives to ensure compliance with local requirements, promote proper collection and treatment, and contribute to circular economy practices in Latin America.
Brazil
In Brazil, the sectoral agreement for household appliances was concluded in October 2019, and Federal Decree No. 10,240/2020 established the mandatory reverse logistics system for household electrical and electronic equipment and components, complementing the National Solid Waste Policy. Panasonic participates through ABREE, supporting the collection and environmentally appropriate treatment of used products. The Brazilian model is structured around progressive annual collection targets calculated as a percentage of the average volume of products placed on the domestic market in previous years, together with geographic expansion requirements for collection points and municipalities served. The implementation schedule covers municipalities with more than 80,000 inhabitants and is designed to reach at least 60% of the Brazilian population, including state capitals and other priority municipalities. The annual collection targets increased progressively during the first phase of implementation, reaching 17% of the reference volume in 2025. The system fully achieved its targets in 2023 and 2024, with 46,800 tons and 90,500 tons collected and treated, respectively, and the 2025 target was also accomplished. For 2026, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change maintained the 2025 target level while the regulatory review process continues, ensuring continuity and legal certainty for companies operating under the reverse logistics system. As of April 2026, 16,900 tons had been collected and treated, representing 27% of the annual target.
Peru
In Peru, WEEE management, locally known as RAEE, is regulated under the national solid waste management framework led by MINAM, mainly through Legislative Decree No. 1278, DS No. 014-2017-MINAM and DS No. 009-2019-MINAM. The regulatory framework is being updated through Ministerial Resolution No. 096-2025-MINAM, which aims to strengthen the special regime for WEEE management, including segregation, collection, transportation, recovery and final disposal responsibilities. Panasonic Sales Peru carries out WEEE collection through the collective system RLG Peru (Revo). In 2025, the collective target of 11,584 tons was exceeded, with 11,760 tons collected and treated, equivalent to 101.5% achievement. For 2026, the target is 12,128 tons; as of April 2026, 2,912 tons had been collected, representing 24% fulfillment.
Colombia
In Colombia, WEEE management is governed mainly by Law 1672 of 2013, which establishes producer responsibility for the collection, transportation, treatment and final disposal of WEEE placed on the market. Resolution 0851 of 2022 defines categories and subcategories of electrical and electronic equipment and establishes requirements for WEEE collection and management systems. In addition, Decree 670 of 2025 introduced the Zero Waste Program, reinforcing the transition from disposal-based waste management to a circular economy model, including technological and environmental parks, the formal inclusion of recyclers and the closure of unauthorized open dumps. No new WEEE regulation has been identified for Colombia beyond the current framework, so the regulatory status remains unchanged from the previous update.
Overall, the three countries show a common direction toward stronger producer responsibility, improved collection systems, and greater alignment with circular economy principles. Brazil and Peru already present measurable annual collection results through collective systems, while Colombia continues to strengthen its regulatory structure and waste management model.
Other Countries in Latin America – Recycling Activities Summary
Across other Latin American countries, recycling activities are advancing at different levels of maturity, with a common focus on WEEE regulation, extended producer responsibility, formal collection systems, environmentally sound treatment and circular economy principles. Mexico remains more fragmented, with stronger progress at the Mexico City level through NADF-019-AMBT-2018, while national alignment is still evolving. Ecuador has a structured framework under Ministerial Agreement No. MAATE-2022-067, establishing EPR requirements for household electrical and electronic equipment, although implementation and enforcement are still maturing. Panama is building its institutional and legal foundation through Executive Decree No. 23/2023 and the circular economy framework established by Law No. 502/2025, creating a basis for future WEEE obligations. Costa Rica presents one of the more mature systems in the region, supported by Decrees No. 38272-S and 38993-S, with producer/importer compliance units, recovery targets and authorized waste managers. El Salvador has a broader waste and recycling framework under Decree No. 527, but still requires more specific WEEE mechanisms, while Nicaragua recently introduced NTON No. 05002, establishing technical requirements for WEEE classification, handling, reporting, collection and authorized management.
