The new packaging will be revealed in late September 2019 in five KitKat products including mini, matcha, and strong matcha.
With this move, Nestle Japan is expected to reduce plastics by approximately 380 tonness per year.
The company even claims that the new packaging can be folded into origami, or used to write messages, instead of disposing as waste.
The new paper packaging is fully recyclable and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.
A Nestle Japan spokesman told FoodNavigator-Asia that the paper packaging would not affect shelf life of the confectionery.
The material is made up of high strength paper, making it rain and snow resistant.
“The cost such as capital investment will rise, but we believe it is an investment for a sustainable society.”
This KitKat packaging replacement is positioned as the first step in the company’s vision of making 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025.
The products retail between ¥300 to 500, and are available at supermarkets, drug stores and convenience stores nationwide.
Future initiatives
According to Nestle Japan, the outer packaging of all multipack KITKAT products will be replaced by paper packaging by September 2020.
Single-layer packaging for individually wrapped KITKAT products will be replaced in 2021.
The company said: “Our goal is to create a single material that is easy to recycle.”
The company is exploring the scope of the new packaging to other brands and products. They are also actively exploring materials to further reduce the burden on the environment.
Just last month, the company launched a KitKat product using leftover cocoa pulp as a natural sweetener, which would otherwise have been thrown away.