Steamcream and the Paper Cranes of Peace

Every Steamcream box tells a story — one of hope, peace, and transformation.

Our paper packaging is made entirely from Colorful Wish®, a special recycled paper created from thousands of origami cranes delivered to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan every year. Each crane is folded by someone, somewhere, wishing for peace.

If you look closely inside the box, you’ll see tiny flecks of color in the paper — those are real pieces of the cranes themselves, still visible in the fibers. Each one carries a part of someone’s heartfelt wish.

A Living Symbol of Peace

In Japan, the crane has long symbolized hope and longevity. After World War II, that meaning deepened through the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl from Hiroshima who began folding cranes while battling leukaemia caused by radiation. Her wish to live and the thousands of cranes folded in her honour inspired a movement for peace that continues today.

Each year, millions of cranes arrive at Hiroshima’s and Nagasaki’s memorials from people around the world.

Their message is clear and timeless: hope can be rebuilt, fold by fold.

From Cranes to Colorful Wish®

With over 10 million cranes offered each year, the cities face a beautiful challenge — how to honor these sacred gifts without simply storing or discarding them. Their answer is transformation.

Through the Colorful Wish® program, the cranes are recycled into new paper — a material filled with visible fragments of the originals, keeping their colors and meaning alive. A portion of every Colorful Wish® sale supports UNESCO programs for children and education, spreading peace in action.