• The Millennium Development Goals , where proper environmental management and control of pollution and degradation go a long way in helping us reach them. This is in particular reference to Goal 8 on ensuring environmental sustainability. Specifically, it calls for integrating the principles of sustainable development into country policies and program and reverse the loss of environmental resources, improve sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, and improve the lives of slum dwellers.
• The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). The WSSD Plan of Implementation specifically calls for changing the patterns of consumption and production to ways that are more sustainable. For example, Para 22 focuses on waste: "Prevent and minimize waste and maximize reuse, recycling and use of environmentally friendly alternative materials, with the participation of government authorities and all stakeholders, in order to minimize adverse effects on the environment and improve resource efficiency, with financial, technical and other assistance for developing countries."
• the 10-Year Framework Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production which emerged from WSSD was further concretized by the 2004 'Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity Building' - which clearly emphasizes the role of 3Rs.

The 3R approach provides opportunities for a very broad range of issues, actors and outcomes to be brought together into a working framework. In the case of Japan, for example, it aims to set up a "sound material cycle society", which is a society where consumption of natural resources is minimized and the environmental load is reduced, as much as possible.

The reason why the Japanese 3R Initiative has been successful is because of the strong support that it has received at the national level, among all relevant ministries, due to cooperation among different stakeholders in the public and private sectors, promotion of science and technology for 3Rs, and cooperation with universities and research institutes to develop cutting edge solutions.

There is much we can learn from the Japanese experience, since a balanced approach has been taken to operationalize the initiative by focusing on (a) laws, legislation and governance, (b) education and awareness raising, and (c) technology development. This is backed by key subsidies and grants for project implementation and uptake.

As a result of this support and reinforcement, growth areas can be seen in a number of fields, including:

• Waste disposal businesses
• Air pollution control businesses
• Soil and water purification businesses
• Effluent treatment businesses
• Energy saving and alternative energy businesses
• Recycling technology development

Particularly impressive are the laws and legislation that have been passed under the 3R umbrella, including, for example:

• Fundamental Law for establishing a Sound Material Cycle Society
• Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law
• Law for the Promotion of Utilization of Recyclable Resources
• Container and Packaging Recycling Law
• Electric Household Appliance Recycling Law
• Construction Material Recycling Law
• Food Recycling Law
• End-of-life Vehicle Recycling Law
• Law on Promoting Green Purchasing.

What we can learn from Japan is the development of a package of measures that need to be put in place, not only directly focusing on 3Rs, but also a number of supportive initiatives (for example the more than 20 eco-towns set up around Japan, which become hotbeds of innovation, focusing on innovative and cutting edge technology development) with a distinct environmental flavour to its activities.

The emerging lessons form Japan need to be adopted and customized to countries in the developing world in order to develop workable strategies for demonstration projects, and for commitments from developing countries. Demonstration projects and institutional strengthening exercises by building on experiences in Japan and other countries, and catering to the needs and specific conditions of each country - will go a long way in demonstrating the viability of the 3R approach. The complex and exciting opportunities provided by emerging economies such as China and India, will further enhance the need and effectiveness of 3R policies. This includes sustainable production and supply-side issues, and sustainable consumption and demand-side issues.

Experience so far has demonstrated the need to build multi-stakeholder commitment to sustainability by strong 3R policies and strategies, which is supported by improved access to accurate and trustworthy information. On the other hand, creation of market opportunities and making a business case for the adoption of 3Rs will help in persuading the private sector to participate in 3R issues. Providing clear options in areas such as environmentally sound technologies and green products will help in the uptake of 3R policies.

A number of entities need to come together for this purpose: National and local governments, private sector entities (business, trade and industry), and civil society entities, (including other UN bodies, NGOs/NPOs, consumer groups, universities), including others such as SMEs and private companies, industry associations and institutes, chambers of commerce, consumer groups, universities and research institute, etc.