Calbee will change the packaging of 14 products to black-and-white designs starting May 25, 2026, to reduce petroleum-derived material use [1].
This shift reflects the growing vulnerability of global supply chains to geopolitical instability. By simplifying the printing process, the company aims to ensure a stable supply of snacks while maintaining product quality despite volatile raw material markets.
The company said the decision follows tensions in the Middle East, which have impacted the supply of petroleum-based raw materials such as naphtha [1]. The new packaging replaces full-color designs with a two-tone black-and-white scheme [1].
This measure is part of a broader effort to mitigate the impact of resource shortages. Calbee intends to implement these changes sequentially across the identified product lines in the Japanese market [1].
The move comes amid wider economic pressure on the Japanese food industry. Recent reports indicate that 2,798 food items underwent price revisions starting April 1, 2026, as companies struggled with rising costs [2].
By reducing the number of colors used in printing, Calbee can lower the volume of chemical dyes and solvents required, materials that are heavily dependent on oil derivatives. The company said this strategy allows them to continue operations without compromising the integrity of the food packaging [1].
“Calbee will change the packaging of 14 products to black-and-white designs”
Calbee's decision to strip color from its branding is a rare example of a consumer-facing company prioritizing supply chain resilience over visual marketing. It signals that the volatility of petroleum derivatives—essential not just for fuel but for the chemical dyes used in mass-market packaging—has reached a threshold where traditional aesthetic standards are no longer sustainable for some manufacturers.
