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.
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.
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.
The worst part is most of this packaging is really high quality - I've reused paper bags and what not endlessly, it'd take ages for the stuff to fall apart. Mottainai.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Absolutely not, but it’s just that every single time it’s about japan even if it is not the first or the first country to do so. It’s the fetisishing of japan.
Yes people are generally interested in Japan, it's an interesting place.
This story is also interesting because:
Nestle is a huge company
KitKat is very popular within and outside of Japan
Changing the wrapping from plastic to paper, for this product, in this volume, is a big deal.
If this link was for a similarly large market, meaning its environmental impact was similar, I would read it and be impressed, regardless of where it's from.
Yes Japan is fetishised by westerners but this story would still be interesting without it being related to Japan.
So weird that there’s more tech news from a country that has an enormous tech industry than from countries where people have to spend their time dealing with famine, tribal wars and preventable diseases.
The part where it says "open" can be opened and closed many times with a satisfying snap into place. Definitely recommend grabbing one if you see it somewhere.
41 comments
[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 105 ms ] threadhttp://www.heatspaceandlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/...
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.
It would also be quite outrageous to make any generalizations about Chinese weather, considering just how big that particular pile of dirt it.
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.
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.
But there's an interesting piece on the change here: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-is-chocolate-rarely-w_b_4...
Try searching HN for titles with "Japan" in them vs. for example, nearly any African country.
This story is also interesting because: Nestle is a huge company KitKat is very popular within and outside of Japan Changing the wrapping from plastic to paper, for this product, in this volume, is a big deal.
If this link was for a similarly large market, meaning its environmental impact was similar, I would read it and be impressed, regardless of where it's from.
Yes Japan is fetishised by westerners but this story would still be interesting without it being related to Japan.
The article’s content is almost pointless. It’s the Japan connection that gives it a huge boost here.
Maybe that's because Japan is more relevant when it comes to technology compared to African countries?
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)
https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASM8144JVM81PLFA006.html
Also will initially be applied to only 30% of the Kit Kats sold in Japan (5 types), they will change the packaging for the rest by 2022.
https://www.oyatsujiten.com/x/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/...
The part where it says "open" can be opened and closed many times with a satisfying snap into place. Definitely recommend grabbing one if you see it somewhere.