Frito Lay will roll out the world’s first 100% compostable chip bag in Canadian retail outlets beginning in March.
The new SunChips packaging will be made from more than 90% renewable, plant-based materials, and as a result, the bag will completely break down into compost in a hot, active compost pile in approximately 14 weeks.
Frito Lay is planning to launch its new 90% plant-based, 100% compostable bag in the U.S. to coincide with Earth Day 2010.
Beginning in 2009, you may have noticed the SunChips bags already sporting a unique sound, the new sound of environmentally friendly plant-based materials that are not as soft at room temperature.
The renewable material used to produce the SunChips 100% compostable bag is a plant-based PLA material, a versatile polymer made from starch — the result of four years of research and testing. PLA ensures the product in the bag maintains the quality and freshness Canadian consumers expect.
“Having designed packaging with the environment in mind, SunChips’ certified compostable packaging will help raise awareness of the environmental importance of composting,” said Susan Antler, Executive Director of the Compost Council of Canada. “We hope the introduction of initiatives such as the compostable SunChips bag will encourage and make it easier for Canadians to participate in composting This will hopefully also spur the industry to continue to develop and enhance the technology needed to create packaging from renewable resources.
The SunChips’ compostable packaging has been certified through the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), the only internationally recognized labeling program. As such it presents the opportunity for incorporation into waste management programs destined for composting, provided the local infrastructure is both available and capable of including this packaging material within their system. In the months ahead, SunChips will be working with local composting initiatives to ensure the packages are included in green bin programs as much as possible.
The green SunChip bags will appear in the 225g & 425g size bags, with the balance of the product line transitioning to the compostable packaging in August 2010.
“As we embark on a new decade, environmental initiatives are more important than ever,” says Tony Matta, Vice President of Marketing, Frito Lay Canada. “Every step counts as we strive to shrink our footprint on the planet and the SunChips 100% compostable chip bag is one small step towards a greener future.”