Japan's top snack maker, Calbee, has announced a temporary switch to black-and-white packaging for some of its products to conserve oil-derived input materials. The Tokyo-based company said on Tuesday that the move is a response to supply chain disruptions affecting pigments and other petroleum-based components used in colorful packaging.
According to a company spokesperson, the decision was made to ensure continued production amid global supply constraints. The new packaging will feature minimal design, using only black ink on white backgrounds, reducing the need for colored inks and related materials.
Calbee emphasized that the change is temporary and will not affect product quality or taste. The company plans to monitor supply conditions and return to its usual colorful packaging once the situation normalizes.
The move has drawn attention for its creativity, but it is not directly linked to the Iran war, as some initial reports suggested. Instead, it reflects broader challenges in the global supply chain for petrochemical derivatives.
