Consumers demand SunChips return to non-biodegradable bags.

[Checkmite]

Why? Because people didn't like the sound the biodegradable bag makes when you handle it. (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2010-10-05-sunchips05_ST_N.htm)

While consumers say they want companies to be more environmentally conscious, consumer pressure continues to be strong for companies' products to be convenient, predictable and consumer-friendly.

"Everybody seems to be on the bandwagon for environmentally friendly packaging," says JoAnn Hines, a packaging consultant who refers to herself as the Packaging Diva. "But the problem is that bags like this come out without researching all the consequences."

Consumers can be of two minds, too, she adds. While most mothers say they want "greener packaging," Hines says, mothers also are the biggest purchasers of single-serve chip bags.

Really, it's not that bad. Jesus.

[Apathia]

I stopped buying sunchips because of that noisy bag.
The unpleasant grating sound outweighed the taste.
Biodegradable: nice
But noise pollution.

[John Jones]

Why? Because people didn't like the sound the biodegradable bag makes when you handle it. (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2010-10-05-sunchips05_ST_N.htm)



Really, it's not that bad. Jesus.

Maybe they're getting caught sneaking chips into a movie theater?

My wife likes chiccarones (sp?). They make so much noise we had to prepare against eviction from the movie house.

[Wowbagger]

Donate the remainders to sign language schools!

[Malerin]

Why? Because people didn't like the sound the biodegradable bag makes when you handle it. (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2010-10-05-sunchips05_ST_N.htm)



Really, it's not that bad. Jesus.

I'd rather see a million polar bears drown than hear one of those bags again.

[Wowbagger]

I'd rather see a million polar bears drown than hear one of those bags again.Meanie! :mad:

[Malerin]

Meanie! :mad:

Well, WowBAGGER, you definitely have a dog in this fight.

:boxedin:

[Puppycow]

The noise of the bag — due to an unusual molecular structure that makes the bag more rigid — has been compared to everything from lawnmowers to jet engines. There's even an active Facebook group with more than 44,000 friends that goes by the name of "Sorry But I Can't Hear You Over This SunChips Bag."Living in Japan, I've never tried these. Can a bag really be that loud?

Also, is it something people could get used to? Sometimes people just don't like things that are different from what they are used to.

[daenku32]

Humanity sinks just a little bit more.

[BowlOfRed]

Living in Japan, I've never tried these. Can a bag really be that loud?
It is surprisingly loud. I didn't buy them often beforehand, and I can't say it has dissuaded me from buying them since, but it's immediately noticeable.

I don't think pouring some in a bowl in the kitchen and putting the bag back down is a big deal. But if you like to eat chips while sitting on the couch watching TV with others in the room, I don't think you can do that from this bag.

Ever see the end of the SNL "quarry" commercial skit? It's kind of like that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5kE0MY4nYs

[nw843x]

FYI - these bags need sunlight to decompose. I have been stirring 6 of them in my composter for about 5 months now and there is no change ...

I suspect most people don't like the new bag as it wakes people up when you dig into the bag at 3am :o

[Greg_in_CO]

Geez. This is like something Kramer would've sued over on Seinfeld:

Jerry: "It's coffee! It's supposed to be hot!!"
Kramer: "Not that hot!"

[Apathia]

FYI - these bags need sunlight to decompose. I have been stirring 6 of them in my composter for about 5 months now and there is no change ...

I suspect most people don't like the new bag as it wakes people up when you dig into the bag at 3am :o

The whole floor of the office looks in your direction when you reach for your snacks.

[blutoski]

My solution was to buy the jumbo bags at Costco and transfer them to a 25-year-old tupperware bin when I get home. The bag goes straight into composting.

They *are* very loud, to the point of possibly actually being bad for hearing.

My quibble with the thread title is that people are probably not explicitly asking Sunchips to go back to nonbiodegradeable bags, but would prefer a quiter biodegradeable bag if given the choice.

[Checkmite]

My quibble with the thread title is that people are probably not explicitly asking Sunchips to go back to nonbiodegradeable bags, but would prefer a quiter biodegradeable bag if given the choice.

Except right now the only choice is between a biodegradable bag that makes noise, and a non-biodegradable bag, and people are explicitly asking for the latter.

Has anybody ever bought a bag of Munchos?

[Lisa Simpson]

Not so degradable apparently (http://consumerist.com/2010/10/were-biodegradable-sun-bags-not-so-biodegradable.html).

[ThermionicScott]

I had no idea this issue existed. I think I'll run out and buy one of the bags while I still can to see how loud it really is.

- Scott

[blutoski]

Not so degradable apparently (http://consumerist.com/2010/10/were-biodegradable-sun-bags-not-so-biodegradable.html).

Composting is hard to test in a one-off like this.

Some composters don't even degrade grass clippings for months.
It's very unpredictable, especially for these small units.

The only appropriate test would be a controlled study of parallel units.

As an anecdote, I've had good success with mine.

Also note that the manufacturer recommends chopping up the bag before placing it in the composter and the photo suggests this step was omitted, so I would expect it to break down more slowly than the standard timeframe.

This is not a special instruction: composters are advised to do this for leaves and grass and biodegradeable plastics - composting is always accelerated by pre-mulching.

[atecom]

FQb7ULO_l7c

I had to check it out on youtube, cause Its hard to imagine if you've never seen the bags.

[blutoski]

FQb7ULO_l7c

I had to check it out on youtube, cause Its hard to imagine if you've never seen the bags.

Yeah, he's not exaggerating.

When I transfer the chips from the bag to the plastic bowl for storage, I wear the same earplugs I use when running the lawnmower.

I don't know how it's physically possible, but that bag is louder than a lawnmower.

[Almo]

I thought the bags were incredibly noisy as well. My solution was to pour them into a bowl.

[Malerin]

I thought the bags were incredibly noisy as well. My solution was to pour them into a bowl.

Then you would just have a bowl of bags :confused: