In Canada, they're keeping the noisy SunChips bag, for the good of Mother Earth

[marmar]

SunChips bag not too noisy for Canadians
by Tom Laskawy

1 Nov 2010 10:00 AM


A few weeks ago, Frito Lay pulled its ballyhooed, environmentally-friendly(ier) compostable bag for its SunChips line of snacks because consumers considered it "too noisy."

This corporate decision was inevitable, of course, as the customer is always right. Right? Not up north, reports Sustainable Food News:

Responding to a wave of consumer complaints over the noise level of its SunChips compostable bag, Canada's largest snack food manufacturer said Friday the public needs to get a clue on helping save the environment.

Frito Lay Canada, which is owned by PepsiCo, 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 even created a "public service" video that respects the intelligence of consumers and explains why the bags are noisier than conventional bags -- they're made from a plant-based plastic that's louder at room temperature than petroleum-derived plastic -- as well as the environmental benefits of a compostable bag.

Watch: http://www.grist.org/article/food-2010-11-01-sunchips-bag-not-too-noise-for-canadians


And after all that, if Canadians still hate the bag, finishes Frito-Lay Sustainability Leader Helmi Ansari, then the company will happily send them ... a free pair of earplugs. No joke. Or rather, a joke, but a real offer.

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."


http://www.grist.org/article/food-2010-11-01-sunchips-bag-not-too-noise-for-canadians

[Warpy]

1. I like the crinkly bag

It forced TV sports slobs to consider the civilized option of putting the damned chips into a bowl--or a paper towel lined basket if they were too lazy to consider putting the empty bowl into a dishwasher (women's work, snort).

[nosmokes]

2. y'all canucks must have sense of humour and a sense of responsibility,eh?

I think that ends at the 49th parallell...

[MorningGlow]

3. Bought a noisy bag of Sun Chips a couple of weeks ago

DANG it really is loud! I had no idea!
:rofl:

But I don't get it--why is it "crazy-noisy biodegradable bag" or "traditional nonbiodegradable bag"? Can't Frito Lay take a tip from the organic chip manufacturers and just make a different kind of biodegradable bag? :shrug:

[JBoy]

4. I can only imagine the reason someone would complain.

They're trying to sneak a snack, without their spouse finding out. They'll get caught, will get shit for eating chips, and they're pissed that they can't do this as serreptitiously as they'd like.

[left is right]

5. I guess going out to the garage or patio

would not be an option for the sneaking snack spouse?

[jancantor]

7. depends on your lot size

and local noise ordinances :)

[jancantor]

6. the real test is going to be

if sales go down BECAUSE of their decision.

[SidDithers]

8. K&R...nt

Sid

[Barack_America]

9. The noisy bag helped remind me how much I was eating.

No wonder Americans hate it.

"I just don't know how I got to be so overweight, I hardly eat anything at all!"