The First in Capsule Toy History! Introducing the "Green Capsule" with Calcium Carbonate!

 

 

 Bandai has created a new type of capsule! For some you may not care. But for anyone that's gone to a Gacha shop, or even played at an event, you probably experienced a vendor chasing you down to recycle the capsule.

To start, we can reuse the capsules, and unless the vendor has paid for branding there's little benefit to having you take it and likely throw it away. Meanwhile if we get it back we can clean them up and pop a new toy in it for another spin. Even for those who do pay the extra for branded caps, the cost might be enough to dread letting you take it with it's likely end being the garbage. It's not a pen after all! It has little use after the toys been removed.

There's other issues we have to consider as well. Event spaces don't like trash. Some events have banned all stickers due to them ending up on walls which incurred additional cleaning fees and capsules can be the same. We don't want to get banned from events so we chase those caps down to avoid them ending up on the floor, stepped on and turning into a millions shards of plastic.

So enter Bandai's new capsule, the 'green' capsule. Made of calcium carbonate - or in other words, egg shell. While more eco friendly it doesn't sound very sturdy. Which may be why there's still some plastic in the capsule. But with any plastic in the capsule I'm not sure is trust it to be combustible as they claim. I wouldn't personally burn it.

I guess we'll have to wait and see.when they hit the market this fall. I wish it wasn't a PacMan toy planned for its first appearance. 

I wonder why they didn't adopt the PekaPon?

(Disclaimer: The following is the product announcement from Bandai that has been translated for your convenience.)

What is the Green Capsule?

By using the new material "Calcium Carbonate," this eco-friendly capsule reduces plastic usage by approximately half compared to conventional capsules.

Capsule Features and Product Description

• Features

  • Reduces plastic usage by about 50% compared to traditional capsules.
  • Can be produced at the same cost as conventional capsules, with the possibility of color variations.
  • Generally disposable with regular burnable waste.

• Material (Calcium Carbonate)

  • An inorganic material made from lime water and carbon dioxide, it is found in natural sources like shellfish, coral skeletons, eggshells, limestone, and marble.
  • It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and is widely used in chalk, paper, plastics, rubber, food, and pharmaceuticals.
  • Despite being a natural resource, it is recognized for its environmental benefits.

• Products Featuring the "Green Capsule"

  • Starting this fall, the first series to be released in Green Capsules will be "PAC-MAN Mark Accessories."

  • Product Name: PAC-MAN Mark Accessories

  • Release Date: Scheduled for fall 2024

  • Price: 300 yen (including tax) per capsule

  • Types: 6 varieties

  • PAC-MAN™ & ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.