US snack firm Frito-Lay has heavily publicised the environmental credentials of the Sun Chips bags that are billed as the world’s first 100% compostable crisp pack.
But complaints from consumers about the amount of noise the bags make – including a Facebook page titled ‘Sorry, but I can’t hear you over this Sun Chips Bag’ – has led the firm to revert to traditional plastic for five of the six flavours.
Aurora Gonzalez, a Frito-Lay spokeswoman told Associated Press that the company had received both complaints and compliments about the new bags.
The increased noise is said to be due to the plant-based plastics having a different molecular structure.
The Daily Mail reported that rustling the Sun Chips bags was found to produce a volume of up to 95 decibels, roughly the same as a passing motorcycle and well above the threshold which can damage the eardrum.
By comparison, a lawn mower or a passing subway train reaches around 90 decibels, heavy traffic is 85 decibels whilst a phone ringing is 80.
Click to hear what a SunChip bag sounds like!
