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Home > Resources > Composting > Institutional > Sunchips

SunChips Introduces the World's First 100% Compostable Chip Bag

SunChips, Frito Lay is introducing the world's first 100% compostable chip bag.

Starting March 2010, SunChips packaging will be made from more than 90% renewable, plant-based materials. This new package will completely break down into compost in a hot, active compost pile in approximately 14 weeks. On store shelves, it has a unique sound, the new sound of green.

Frito Lay Canada has been working to reduce the company's environmental impact. Since 1999, Frito Lay Canada has:

  • reduced manufacturing fuel consumption by more than 20% per kilogram of snacks produced.
  • reduced its water consumption by 30%, saving 5.4 billion litres of water.
  • diverted more than 92% of manufacturing waste from landfills into re-use streams.
  • reused about 30 million shipping cartons a year, equivalent to 300,000 trees saved and 2 million trees total.

The new SunChips bag is made from PLA (polylactic acid), a compostable polymer made from starch. The package has a different sound than traditional bags because the plantbased materials are not as soft at room temperature.

The SunChips' compostable packaging has been certified through the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). SunChips will be working with local composting authorities to enable the new packaging to be included in green bin programs as much as possible.

The SunChips 100% compostable chip bag will start appearing on shelves in Canada this March in the 225g& 425g size bags, with the balance of SunChips packages changing to compostable packaging in August 2010.

(Source: February 2010 WasteWatch)

Updates:

October 8, 2010:

SunChips USA has bowed to public pressure that the bags are "too loud" (when are chips ever quiet??? Pour them in a bowl, for heaven's sake!), and have pulled the compostable bags off the shelves. The following is from the Sunchips website:

"We here at SunChips are committed to developing sustainable packaging solutions that meet the demands of our snacks and our consumers.

For now, because we're committed to composting, we will continue to use the current 100% compostable packaging on specially-marked 10.5 oz. bags of our Original flavor SunChips snacks. All other flavors will transition back to traditional packaging while we put the finishing touches on the next generation of compostable bags. SunChips snacks in traditional packaging will begin to appear in stores in late-September to early October.

Why are we making the change? While there was a huge amount of enthusiasm surrounding the launch of our compostable SunChips bag, we've also received feedback regarding how the new packaging has affected the consumer experience, including its noise. In response, we're taking steps to improve our 100% compostable bag in order to address your concerns. We have several new compostable package options in the works that look promising and look forward to introducing the next generation compostable bag to consumers in the near future."

November 1, 2010:

While the noise may have been too much for our American neighbours, Frito Lay Canada has decided that Canadians are made of tougher stuff, and the compostable bags will remain on the shelves in Canada.

It has "launched a consumer awareness campaign to help the public understand that its bag does not harm the environment as much as a petroleum-based bag. The company's campaign slogan is: "Our bag is loud, our bag is different, our bag is good for the environment, and our bag will remain on store shelves.""

Frito Lay Canada has also made a public service video explaining why their bag is noisier than others, and why it is good for the environment. The video finishes with an offer for a free pair of earplugs if consumers complain about the nosie.

"So, to sum up: Frito Lay Canada saw the bag brouhaha as an opportunity to get some exposure for their product and burnish their environmental credentials. And Frito Lay America? It retreated with its tail between its legs in the face of a vocal minority screaming about being able to snack in absolute silence -- consequences be damned. Once again, Canada proves itself smarter than the 'land of liberty.'"

(Source: Grist.org)

 

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