Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#1

Post by blue_devil » Thu, Oct 10, 2019, 10:01 AM UTC

Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper
mymodernmet.com

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#2

Post by cjg » Thu, Oct 10, 2019, 4:15 PM UTC

KitKats always used to come with metal foil (not plasticised) and a paper covering. I remember making small squares out of that paper and making origami models.

http://www.heatspaceandlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/...

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#3

Post by jedimastert » Thu, Oct 10, 2019, 5:21 PM UTC

Does anyone have any data on when candy bars started switching to plastic from the foil and gloss paper method? I'm 25 and have some hold outs on the very edge of my memory.

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#4

Post by flyingfences » Thu, Oct 10, 2019, 5:22 PM UTC

cjg wrote: post #2

KitKats always used to come with metal foil (not plasticised) and a paper covering. I remember making small squares out of that paper and making origami models. http://www.heatspaceandlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/...

Is that the case in all markets? Japan, from all I hear, tends to wrap products in a lot of unnecessary plastic, so I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Japanese KitKats are wrapped with plastic to align with Japanese consumer expectation. Given that the article quotes a specific amount of plastic that Nestle is expecting to save though this substitution, I'm almost certain that their packaging is currently plastic.

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#5

Post by flyingfences » Thu, Oct 10, 2019, 5:24 PM UTC

jedimastert wrote: post #3

Does anyone have any data on when candy bars started switching to plastic from the foil and gloss paper method? I'm 25 and have some hold outs on the very edge of my memory.

I've never been one to eat many candy bars, but I seem to recall the transition generally being about fifteen years ago.

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#6

Post by aasasd » Thu, Oct 10, 2019, 5:36 PM UTC

Sony's Clie PDAs back in early–mid-2000s came with a CD in a paper tray-package. It was a thin box of sturdy paper, the size of a ‘jewel’ case, but from a side of it slid out a tray, also of paper, with the disc on it. And it didn't come out all the way but was held by something inside. I realized then that Japan treats its papercraft seriously.

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#7

Post by tossAfterUsing » Thu, Oct 10, 2019, 5:38 PM UTC

origami paper... and microplastics?

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#8

Post by PHGamer » Thu, Oct 10, 2019, 5:48 PM UTC

its fine if the product is superior (paper straws aren't to plastic ones). i wonder how this will handle melted chocolates. I guess as long as it does degrade when that happens.

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#9

Post by ghostbrainalpha » Thu, Oct 10, 2019, 6:05 PM UTC

jedimastert wrote: post #3

Does anyone have any data on when candy bars started switching to plastic from the foil and gloss paper method? I'm 25 and have some hold outs on the very edge of my memory.

The change was to "flow wrapping", and its mostly about the speed on the production line.

But there's an interesting piece on the change here: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-is-chocolate-rarely-w_b_4...

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#10

Post by asutekku » Thu, Oct 10, 2019, 6:21 PM UTC

This is only popular here in HN because of japan. A lot of countries have used non-plastic paper for ages. But the ah always so mysterious japan makes it seem so interesting.