Japanese snack manufacturer Calbee is switching its potato-chip packaging to black-and-white to prevent product shortages caused by a lack of ink solvents [1].
The shift highlights the fragility of Japan's industrial supply chain, where geopolitical instability in Iran is disrupting the availability of naphtha-derived chemicals essential for commercial printing.
Suppliers have warned companies that the naphtha-derived solvents required to make ink adhere to packaging may become scarce [1]. To ensure that shipments of goods do not stop, Calbee and other producers are implementing these stop-gap monochrome measures [1].
Small businesses are also feeling the impact. In the Kanda district of Tokyo, a Western-style cake shop that orders approximately 10,000 boxes per month [1] is facing similar challenges with its packaging materials.
Prime Minister Takashi said on April 30, 2026, that the supply of naphtha-derived chemical products had previously been secured for more than half a year [1]. He said that the supply is now expected to continue beyond a year [1].
Despite these government assurances, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that the move to black-and-white packaging was necessary because procurement sources warned of potential shortages [1]. Japan continues to pursue alternative oil-procurement routes to stabilize the flow of raw materials amid the ongoing uncertainty over Iranian oil supplies [1, 2].
“Calbee is switching its potato-chip packaging to black-and-white to prevent product shortages.”
The transition to monochrome packaging serves as a visible indicator of 'resource nationalism' and supply chain vulnerability. While the Japanese government is attempting to secure long-term chemical supplies, the immediate adoption of emergency design changes suggests that private sector confidence in the stability of oil-derived inputs remains low.
