13 Information Flow System for Chemicals in Products (CiP) …
195
13.2.2 The Circular Economy
We assume that the background mentioned above is the CE. The reasons are as below.
We can find over a hundred definitions of the CE (Kirchherr et al. 2017), although
there is no commonly accepted definition (Yuan et al. 2006; Ghisellini et al. 2016)
because the CE is not a mature concept. Despite this, we can detect common core
CE principles from the various definitions. They are the “3R framework” particularly promoting recycling with “system perspective” and “economic prosperity”
(Kirchherr et al. 2017; Yuan et al. 2006). In Japan, a policy named “a recyclingbased society” has been implemented and this policy is also considered as one of
the various forms of the CE (Lieder and Rashid 2016). As the information systems,
including chemSHERPA, focus on compliance with laws for both manufacturing
and recycling and emphasise economic aspects such as cost-effectiveness, we can
mention that they are based on the CE.
Moreover, the CM perspective may be essential to the CE for prioritising or
categorising materials for control and retaining them for as long as possible (ECHA
2016; Vanner 2014). Therefore, it seems that CM and the CE are closely related,
and this relationship also supports the idea that the CE is another background for
the information systems. Furthermore, by stressing cost-effectiveness, these systems
seem to prioritise the CE over CM.
13.3 ChemSHERPA in Japan
13.3.1 A Brief History of ChemSHERPA
Prior to 2014, there were two CiP information flow systems in Japan managed by
the JGPSSI
*6 (Electronics et al. 2019) and the JAMP
*7 respectively. The former was
based on the Joint Industry Guide (JIG) issued by the E&E industry in Japan, the US
and Europe, while the latter, issued by the JAMP, was based on the JIG and IMDS
(IMDS 2017). In 2012, a new international standard, IEC 62474, was established
(Stachura and Stein 2012), and the JIG was transferred to IEC 62474. At that time,
the two systems still co-existed, even though both shifted their bases into IEC 62474.
Confronted two different standards, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
(METI) developed a next-generation system, and led the JGPSSI and JAMP into this
unified system, chemSHERPA. In 2016, the JAMP initiated the formal operations of
chemSHERPA (METI 2017). Many enterprises have recently moved from the system
managed by the JAMP or JGPSSI to chemSHERPA, and over 10,000 companies draw
on application software prepared by a provider. These companies are mainly, but not
exclusively, in the E&E and chemical industries.
195
13.2.2 The Circular Economy
We assume that the background mentioned above is the CE. The reasons are as below.
We can find over a hundred definitions of the CE (Kirchherr et al. 2017), although
there is no commonly accepted definition (Yuan et al. 2006; Ghisellini et al. 2016)
because the CE is not a mature concept. Despite this, we can detect common core
CE principles from the various definitions. They are the “3R framework” particularly promoting recycling with “system perspective” and “economic prosperity”
(Kirchherr et al. 2017; Yuan et al. 2006). In Japan, a policy named “a recyclingbased society” has been implemented and this policy is also considered as one of
the various forms of the CE (Lieder and Rashid 2016). As the information systems,
including chemSHERPA, focus on compliance with laws for both manufacturing
and recycling and emphasise economic aspects such as cost-effectiveness, we can
mention that they are based on the CE.
Moreover, the CM perspective may be essential to the CE for prioritising or
categorising materials for control and retaining them for as long as possible (ECHA
2016; Vanner 2014). Therefore, it seems that CM and the CE are closely related,
and this relationship also supports the idea that the CE is another background for
the information systems. Furthermore, by stressing cost-effectiveness, these systems
seem to prioritise the CE over CM.
13.3 ChemSHERPA in Japan
13.3.1 A Brief History of ChemSHERPA
Prior to 2014, there were two CiP information flow systems in Japan managed by
the JGPSSI
*6 (Electronics et al. 2019) and the JAMP
*7 respectively. The former was
based on the Joint Industry Guide (JIG) issued by the E&E industry in Japan, the US
and Europe, while the latter, issued by the JAMP, was based on the JIG and IMDS
(IMDS 2017). In 2012, a new international standard, IEC 62474, was established
(Stachura and Stein 2012), and the JIG was transferred to IEC 62474. At that time,
the two systems still co-existed, even though both shifted their bases into IEC 62474.
Confronted two different standards, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
(METI) developed a next-generation system, and led the JGPSSI and JAMP into this
unified system, chemSHERPA. In 2016, the JAMP initiated the formal operations of
chemSHERPA (METI 2017). Many enterprises have recently moved from the system
managed by the JAMP or JGPSSI to chemSHERPA, and over 10,000 companies draw
on application software prepared by a provider. These companies are mainly, but not
exclusively, in the E&E and chemical industries.