Isra-Mart srl:Frito-Lay makes big noise over quieter compostable bag

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Isra-Mart srl news:

It was arguably the least impressive reason to drop a sustainability project, but last year Frito-Lay was forced to withdraw a new biodegradable chip bag after customers complained that it was too loud.

But now the company has returned to the idea of biodegradable packaging with a new chip packet that promises to be much quieter.

The firm has been researching a re-engineered compostable bag ever since withdrawing the unacceptably loud version last year and has now developed a different adhesive to put together the two layers of its chip bags, which its packaging experts say will help to insulate sound from the bag.

Reports suggest that the new bags will be around 15 per cent quieter than the old ones.

Last October, the PepsiCo-owned firm withdrew the earlier biodegradable bag after the noise it made when opened, around 85-95 dB, annoyed consumers so much that it prompted a Facebook campaign calling on the company to drop the new bags. Some likened it to a "revving motorcycle", while others went to the extent of measuring it with a sound meter.

Customers also implored theatre owners never to sell Frito-Lay snacks in their establishments, lest they disturb movie watchers' enjoyment.

The original bags, which were introduced in April 2009, were made from corn-based biopolymers and decomposed in around three months.

The company is reintroducing compostable bags for its line of plain-flavoured chips. This was the only one of its varieties that did not switch back to plastic bags. It will wait for customer feedback before rolling out the packaging to other flavours.