Origami Kit Kat Paper Packaging Launched

In another step towards their commitment for 100% recyclable packaging by 2025, Nestlé have unveiled new Kit Kat paper packaging.

Following on from the announcement of their YES! snack bars now using recyclable paper wrapping, Nestlé have now turned their sustainability focus towards one of their most popular chocolate bar brands, Kit Kat.

The Japanese branch of the company has recently released new packaging for the miniature versions of Kit Kat chocolate bars, opting for each pack to now be wrapped in paper rather than plastic.

By switching to paper packaging for their miniature multipacks (known to be the biggest market for Kit Kats in Japan), it’s expected that the change could result in the reduction of almost 380 tons of plastic used each year.

Paper Packaging – But With a Twist

An interesting aspect of the new packaging rollout is how Nestlé plan to market it and create interest in the new paper wrapped product.

In efforts to attract the public to purchase the newly paper wrapped Kit Kats, Nestlé Japan has designed updated packaging which includes instructions on how to fashion each wrapper into a traditional origami crane.

Additionally, the bags of mini Kit Kat bars feature designs to encourage consumers to transform the larger wrapper bags into other pieces of unique origami art.

The first Kit Kat paper packaging produced will be for the more popular flavours of the snack in Japan, which includes Original, Matcha and Otona No Amasa (translating to “sweetness for adults” and described as a more bitter, dark chocolate taste.)

Next year in 2020, Nestlé Japan will roll out the packaging for the outer bags of regular sized Kit Kat multipacks and will then release single-layer paper wrappers for individual Kit Kats in 2021.

How Kit Kat Paper Packaging Will Aid Nestlé’s Sustainability Push

The statistic firm Statista reports that Nestlé’s beverages business alone made over $21.7 billion (approx. £17.4 billion) last year, meaning that this next step in shifting its packaging business to more sustainable practices pushes them closer to their goal of 100% recyclable packaging by the year 2025.

Speaking back in 2018 upon the announcement of their new ambition to reach this objective, Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider commented:

“Plastic waste is one of the biggest sustainability issues the world is facing today.

Tackling it requires a collective approach.

We are committed to finding improved solutions to reduce, re-use and recycle.

Our ambition is to achieve 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025.”

Going forwards, the three core areas that the company has pledged to continue to focus on are the elimination of non-recyclable plastics, encouraging the use of plastics that allow better recycling rates and to eliminate/change complex combinations of current packaging materials.