Pleasure trumps green in the chip world

On October 2, PepsiCo's Frito-Lay, the makers of SunChips, explained it has pulled the world's first fully biodegradable bag (all flavors except Original) as they work to find a better solution that is more pleasurable to your ears.

"While Frito-Lay works to develop a next-generation compostable package, SunChips Original snacks will remain in the current 100% compostable package, while the other SunChips flavors will be transitioned back to their traditional packaging. Once the improved compostable bag is ready, it will be featured in the SunChips Original flavor, allowing Frito-Lay to monitor consumers' response," wrote Frito-Lay Consumer Affairs according to the blog The Inspired Economist.

Until Frito-Lay finds ear-friendly packaging you might want to try the Colombian company Comestibles Ricos' "Super Ricas" potato chips enhanced with Omega 3s and sold in a biodegradable bag.

Apparently it is more important to have a crunch-less bag while chomping on SunChips rather than the noisy 100 percent 14-week compostable bag launched last year as the Frito-Lay repacks their chips in unrecyclable bags.

The market research firm SymphonyIRI Group noted the company experienced an 11 percent decline in sales in the past year according to USA Today on October 5.

SunChips fans took to YouTube in December 2009 with clips proving the sack's noisy credentials:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQb7ULO_l7c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyKqj3H02D8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRWelTDdHJM

As of October 5, over 45,224 people 'like' the Facebook page Sorry But I Can't Hear You Over This Sun Chips Bag introduced as "The new Sun Chips bags are so f#*king loud. I crinkle them constantly on purpose whenever I am walking around with one. You should do the same."

However not all are pleased by the pro-ear, anti-earth movement:

"This is ridiculous!!!! I was so excited when I saw a big name like Frito-Lay use biodegradable packaging for one of their products. Do people have nothing better to do than complain about the noise of a chip bag?!?!," posted Jennifer Vranicar on the Facebook page wall on October 5.

And Francince Davis responded, "I will be surprised if Frito-Lay even bothers to spend the money on developing and marketing a quieter biodegradable bag. I almost can't blame them if they don't."

Watch Frito-Lay's initiative to launch a green bag: http://www.fritolay.com/our-planet/making-a-better-bag.html

Visit the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/SORRY-BUT-I-CANT-HEAR-YOU-OVER-THIS-SUN-CHIPS-BAG/116706515038289