SunChips making noise for the environment.
I heard some comforting news this week. SunChips Canada has decided to keep their eco-friendly, biodegradable bags in circulation. Even after much heated debate about the bags being too noisy which has caused the US brand to ditch the green bags.
Instead of returning to the original, land-filling packaging, SunChips has decided stand up to the naysayers with a bit of a tongue-in-cheek retort. See video here. On their Facebook page, SunChips is offering to mail out earplugs to whomever asks. Love it. They understand what is at stake here.
What is more surprising: That consumers find noise control is more important than reducing packaging waste? Or that a company has not bent to some noisy, public resistance and done an about-face. Choosing instead to stick to their guns and their environmental initiative?
Hopefully this sassy stance gets some justified PR and gives the “Sorry But I Can’t Hear You Over This SunChips Bag” Facebook group a revelation that this is bigger than their self-indulgence.
Michela
November 5, 2010 5:12 pmWith all the pressure for companies to become greener, I think I’m most surprised to hear that the US brand DID ditch the bags. I can’t believe that people are more concerned about the noise than the environmental consequences.
Makes an even bigger statement that the Canadian counterpart it sticking to it’s guns and keeping the green packaging.
Amy
November 6, 2010 7:54 amThe whole hub-bub about the bags is ridiculous. All chip bags are noisy and annoying. Is there an unwritten decibel level that you can’t cross? Besides, everyone knows that you shouldn’t eat directly out of the bag, anyway. That leads to overeating. You should pour some into a bowl or something and eat them that way. Noise problem solved.
redfelt13
November 6, 2010 11:46 pmIt is amazing isn’t it. Is it that people do not understand the significant step forward having biodegradable packaging is? Or is that they are just in denial as to what the current situation is.
As for Amy’s comment. The bowl is a valid comment that a lot of advocates voice. Many can tell you that I don’t have a eaten-too-many gauge when it comes to chips…
Eden
February 28, 2011 11:39 amI tweeted an article from Fast Company (http://bit.ly/fJ0gAD) last week that reports that SunChips is making a small change to the bag to make it less noisy – a rubbery adhesive between the bag’s layers that cuts out 15 decibels of sound.
While it’s disappointing that many consumers are more concerned about the noise of the bag than the environmental conscience of Frito-Lay, it’s not really surprising. I hope this adhesive is biodegradable as well, if not I say ear plugs for everyone!
redfelt13
February 28, 2011 11:47 amThanks for the link Eden. Some of those stats are scary aren’t they.