Frito Lay to Scrap Loud SunChips Bag
Company responds to consumer complaints that biodegradable bag is too noisy.
Oct. 5, 2010 — -- Ladies and gentleman, somehow, over the loud, crinkling noise, FritoLay hears you. And changes are coming.
About 18 months after the company unveiled its new 100 percent compostable packaging for SunChips, the company has said it will transition back to the original packing for five of its six flavors. The original, plain flavored chips will still be sold in the eco-friendly wrappers.
The reason for the switch? Consumers say the packaging is too loud. What? Yes, it's too loud.
And the only thing louder than the packaging may be the complaining about it.
A Facebook page titled "SORRY BUT I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THIS SUN CHIPS BAG" has been liked by more than 44,000 users. The page's motto, "The new SunChips bags are so... loud. I crinkle them constantly on purpose whenever I am walking around with one. You should do the same" concisely summarizes the issue.
FritoLay spokesperson Aurora Gonzalez told ABC News the particular Facebook page did not influence the company's decision. In fact, Gonzalez said that the decision to pull the bags off grocery shelves was more a response direct customer feedback -- in the form of letters and phone calls.
"There was a lot of feedback that asked for changes to the packaging," Gonzalez said. "But there were a lot of consumers who gave us kudos for this innovative step. So for those people that want this kind of packaging we want to make it available to them."
That green wrapper appeals to SunChips fan Lacy Garrison, a 34-year-old computer programmer in Brooklyn, N.Y. For Garrison, the loud wrapper is not an issue.
"They're a little noisier I guess, but it's not a big deal," he said. "With so many problems in the world, I'm not too concerned about the crinkliness of a SunChips bag."
FritoLay to Work on Quieter Eco-Friendly Bag
Garrison, who said she eats SunChips about three times a week, would prefer the biodegradable bags remain.
"That's one less piece of plastic on the planet," he said.
But the company is not willing to drop the plan for more eco-friendly packaging. Gonzalez said FritoLay will work to create a fully compostable bag that is "a little less noisy."