Compostable Potato Chip Bags

I'm usually not one to immediately jump on the so-called "green bandwagon," despite a fairly strong interest in the environment, and in the conservation and preservation of our natural resources. Certainly I am a strong proponent of recycling. But being that I am also fairly frugal, I must consider price somewhere in the bigger picture.

Don't get me wrong. I definitely agree that there is a value in the premium we pay in certain situations. I certainly talk enough about that when I'm making my argument for buying American made products, for example. And there is, unquestionably, much in the way of value in helping the environment as well.

I also think, however, that in an innovative and creative, business wise country such as ours, we can find ways to deliver environmentally conscious products and packaging in a seamless way, and it should be what we strive to do. It shouldn't have to hurt one's wallet necessarily in order to do some good. And company's who truly wish to capitalize on any green agenda should have a real focus on the environment which could be easily perceived through their own involvement with promoting and encouraging a step in that direction. It's not just enough to say you're green to market your product to an environmentally conscious demographic; you need to be green, and market the product in some ways as an ambassador of the environment, and keep prices in step with similar, non-green competitor's products.

That's why a press release from The Inventure Group, a maker of snack food products, brought a bit of a smile to my face. Their brand of potato chips, Boulder Canyon, which also happen to be in the "healthier snacks" category because of their natural cooking process, zero cholesterol, and zero trans fats, are now introducing what the company believes is the first compostable packaging made for the natural snack food category.

According to the press release, the compostable packaging can be dealt with in several environmentally friendly ways, including home composting, can be recycled through approved organic recycling programs, or can be incinerated at an incineration plant.

While the press release doesn’t address it, even if the packaging is simply tossed out with the regular garbage, it will likely break down at a faster rate than a normal potato chip package might, considering the bag is made primarily from wood pulp. If it’ll break down in your compost pile at home, it’ll certainly break down better in a landfill at some point.

I think with this packaging, Boulder Canyon has certainly achieved a seamless step toward green. By that I mean, you don’t necessarily want to have to change your habits—not that changing habits is a negative in some cases—in how you deal with the byproducts of our high consumerism, such as what do you do with the empty potato chip bag once you’ve enjoyed the contents. And especially with the current state of the economy, high unemployment, as well as taking into consideration that a bag of potato chips really is, already, a bit of a luxury item, you don’t want to have to shell out much more money for a greener bag either. In the case of the Boulder Canyon brand of potato chips, the price per ounce for the 7.5 oz. compostable package will be essentially the same as the price per ounce for the standard 5 oz. package. And again, while the bag is intended to be composted, I think I've already made my case for it having a better chance for decomposition in a landfill.

There is a strong argument, as well, that if the packaging proves successful, the Inventure Group may begin using the packaging for other products within their portfolio—though this is purely speculation—and other companies may catch on as well, thereby driving down further any premium costs that may be associated with using the packaging, furthering it's seamless introduction into the mainstream.

Going green is a good thing. It’s especially good when it doesn’t have to hurt to do it. Perhaps the next greatest innovation may be a package I can eat once I’m done with the chips. I suppose that one will just have to be a wait and see deal.