economy
Japan sees shortage of plastic bags, trays and gloves, as Iran war-induced naphtha shortage worsens
The Middle East is Japan’s main source of crude oil, from which naphtha is extracted and used to make items including printing ink and plastics
TL;DR
- Japan is facing shortages of plastic bags, trays, and food service gloves due to a lack of naphtha, caused by the Middle East crisis.
- The food sector, a major consumer of plastic, is heavily impacted, leading some businesses to incentivize customers bringing their own containers.
- Naphtha, derived from crude oil from the Middle East, is crucial for producing various items including plastics, and its production is significantly down in Japan.
- The Japanese government is facing pressure over the shortages, while industry experts predict the situation will worsen.
- Retailers are mandated to charge for plastic bags, but excessive plastic packaging remains common, now under pressure due to low supplies.
- Businesses like supermarkets and bakeries are struggling to obtain plastic trays and bags, with some offering rewards for customers using their own containers.
- Municipal rubbish collection systems are affected, and panic buying has led to restrictions on plastic garbage bag sales.
- Similar shortages are reported in other East Asian countries, including South Korea and Taiwan, which also rely on Middle East oil for naphtha.