I think I’ve heard it all now, or in this case not heard it to know any differently. Of all the reasons a biodegradeable packaging product might be doomed and pulled from the market I never would have guessed ‘being too noisy’ might be one of them – but that is exactly what has happened with Frito-Lays “100% Compostable Bag” is was using to ship its popular Sun Chips brand. Not being a regular or even semi-regular consumer of the snack product I’m not in a position to know that the bag designed to reduce pollution was actually guilty of noise pollution. Not just noisy but to such an extent that the company is removing it from 5 out of 6 flavours of the snack food line. Seriously though, just how loud can a chip bag be – and what does the owner of the chip bag do with the packet to generate decibels to such a level that they cause offense?

The bag that roared

Its obviously a big enough issue to now see the removal of the biodegradable bag and a return to the original plastic packaging. A sad indictment of intolerance or an example of a good idea just simply being too loud? You tell me.

When Frito-Lay have completed the return to old and less environmental friendly ways the only way to experience the pure cacophony of the new bag will be to purchase the original (plain) flavour of Sun Chips. I must confess I’m tempted just to see what all the fuss has been about. If you seek some volume with your chips in other flavours the manufacturers says you only have about a month before the transition is complete. The eco-friendly but noisy bag was launched 18 months ago and the swell of complaints and humour has grown and grown ever since. The noise is due to the packaging being plant based which results in a stiffer but far louder bag. Facebook groups even appeared with names such as “I wanted SunChips but my roommate was sleeping…” and “Nothing is louder than a SunChips bag.”

Frito-Lay didn’t rush to remove the item but they acknowledge while many have contacted them in praise of the recyclable packaging far more have written to complain about the noise. Apparently noise annoys to the point where plastics score a rare victory. The good news? Frito-Lay still plan to lauch new biodegradable packaging on future products and say they will take the lessons learned from the Sun Chip adventure on board when launching new lines.