Calbee, Japan's biggest snack maker, is switching the packaging of 14 of its flagship products to monochrome designs by the end of May. The company, whose potato chip brands are typically known for their brightly coloured bags, will implement black-and-white branding for some of its salty products, including crisps and prawn crackers.
The decision comes as war in Iran and a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz disrupt the supply of naphtha, a crude-oil derivative used in printing ink. Japan relies on imports from the Middle East for approximately 40 per cent of its naphtha consumption, leading to supply instability for the petrochemical materials needed for coloured inks.
These shortages occur as global oil prices continue to rise, with Brent crude climbing near $110 a barrel. The increase follows a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, where the United States and Iran have both rejected each other's ceasefire proposals.