The demand model utilized the 2020 demand in Japan as its starting point. The BAU demand scenario assumed a decline in domestic demand proportional to a 20% decline in the population of Japan by 2050 (United Nations 2022), while net exports were assumed to remain flat until 2050. The LC demand scenario assumed a further reduction in demand compared to the BAU scenario as a result of the four circularity activities in the downstream industry sectors, as described in the following section. In the LC scenario, circularity was implemented at 50% of its maximum potential while still providing the same utility as the BAU scenario did.