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Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

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Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#21

Post by nitrogen »

arghwhat wrote: post #19
flyingfences wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

It's for some weird reason an Asian thing. Go to a bakery in China or Japan, buy 3 pieces of pastry, and you will walk away with 4 plastic bags. It's especially annoying in Japan, as they also have super strict garbage policies and no possibility to dispose of things in public. That by itself is a great idea, if only they would stop giving me so much unnecessary garbage to carry around .

Someone previously mentioned on HN that the extra packaging is due to Japan's humidity.

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#22

Post by jcomis »

iRobbery wrote: post #13

slightly off topic, the black kitkat, those are dark chocolate kitkats? The green packaged one is for sale now here, but now i learned there is a black one. (which they dont sell at our local supermarkets)

Here's a link to buy them: https://www.amazon.com/Nestle-KitKat-Dark-Chocolate-Flavor/d...

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#23

Post by dwoozle »

nitrogen wrote: post #21
arghwhat wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's for some weird reason an Asian thing. Go to a bakery in China or Japan, buy 3 pieces of pastry, and you will walk away with 4 plastic bags. It's especially annoying in Japan, as they also have super strict garbage policies and no possibility to dispose of things in public. That by itself is a great idea, if only they would stop giving me so much unnecessary garbage to carry around .

Someone previously mentioned on HN that the extra packaging is due to Japan's humidity.

Japanese humidity is a bit of nonsense. Places like Florida, India, Singapore, and Brazil all have much higher humidity.

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#24

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

PHGamer wrote: post #8

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.

All candy used to be wrapped in paper, including Kit Kats. They will be fine.

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#25

Post by cwkoss »

flyingfences wrote: post #4
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.

Japan has a strong gift culture, many things come wrapped in many layers for the purposes of gifting. I think plastic bags containing individually-wrapped-in-plastic items come from this idea: you can give someone a single item without worrying about contamination from unclean hands. Hi-chews are a good example of this.

I remember buying a few items at a department store in Japan and the clerk individually wrapped each item in paper, then wrapped all the items together in paper, then put it all in a paper bag.

They extensively use a 'heavy tissue'-like paper to wrap many items. A decorative plate I bought as a gift for my grandfather was wrapped in about 20 sheets of this paper. Great protection, but it did feel a little wasteful.

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#26

Post by NeedMoreTea »

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/...

When I was a young un, KitKats, Aeros, and all chocolate bars came in thin aluminium foil and a very thin paper wrapper, just like your KitKat pic. Foil was usually colour coded by flavour. 100% recyclable, even in the 70s.

Mars bars, Crunchies, and other bars were wrapped in greaseproof paper folded envelope style and sealed with gum. They were the right shape and weight for small paper aeroplanes for annoying teachers. :)

There was a selection of playground origami models traditional for the various other size sweetie and choc wrappers that were mainly greaseproof or waxed paper.

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#27

Post by fyfy18 »

PHGamer wrote: post #8

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.

What's wrong with paper straws? I've found they can't really be reused, but that's the point, as most plastic straws are used once and thrown away.

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#28

Post by noodlesUK »

iRobbery wrote: post #13

slightly off topic, the black kitkat, those are dark chocolate kitkats? The green packaged one is for sale now here, but now i learned there is a black one. (which they dont sell at our local supermarkets)

Yes, it’s a dark chocolate version. You can often find them in Japanese/Asian supermarkets if there is one near you. They’re pretty good.

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#29

Post by nitrogen »

dwoozle wrote: post #23
nitrogen wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone previously mentioned on HN that the extra packaging is due to Japan's humidity.

Japanese humidity is a bit of nonsense. Places like Florida, India, Singapore, and Brazil all have much higher humidity.

Do pastries and candies go stale faster in those areas without the extra packaging, or is there a different motivation for the packaging?

Re: Japanese KitKats Are Replacing Plastic Packaging with Origami Paper

#30

Post by arghwhat »

nitrogen wrote: post #21
arghwhat wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's for some weird reason an Asian thing. Go to a bakery in China or Japan, buy 3 pieces of pastry, and you will walk away with 4 plastic bags. It's especially annoying in Japan, as they also have super strict garbage policies and no possibility to dispose of things in public. That by itself is a great idea, if only they would stop giving me so much unnecessary garbage to carry around .

Someone previously mentioned on HN that the extra packaging is due to Japan's humidity.

Hmm, coming from Denmark, I don't find Japan particularly humid, and we certainly don't wrap bread or pastry products.

It would also be quite outrageous to make any generalizations about Chinese weather, considering just how big that particular pile of dirt it.

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