Plano, Texas-based Frito-Lay has introduced an industrially compostable bag for its Off The Eaten Path brand.
The bags are currently available at Whole Foods Market and select retailers starting this month. They are an example of PepsiCo’s investments in food packaging technology.
Producing the materials used for these bags creates approximately 60 percent lower GHG emissions than traditional packaging, and the technology may be licensed to other companies at no cost to further the use across the consumer-packaged goods industry.
“Frito-Lay recognizes the important role we play in driving toward a circular economy and reducing packaging waste,” said David Allen, VP of sustainability for Frito-Lay North America. “We are investing in plans to scale circular food packaging that is recyclable, compostable, biodegradable or reusable and sharing that technology to build a more sustainable food system for us all.”
Off The Eaten Path prides itself on being a brand passionate about developing snacks made with real ingredients consumers can feel good about like peas, chickpeas and black beans that are better for people and for our planet.
As part of the journey on developing snacks better for the planet, Off the Eaten Path is piloting industrially compostable packaging. Made primarily from non-food, plant-based sources, it is available on specially marked Off The Eaten Path Chickpea Veggie Crisps or Off The Eaten Path Veggie Crisps.
In order to send the packaging to be composted, consumers are invited to sign up on the TerraCycle program page here, where they are given the choice to either mail in the packaging using the provided prepaid shipping label or locate a local composting drop-off location via the easy-to-use database.
“Since our founding, TerraCycle has made it our mission to ‘Eliminate the Idea of Waste’ and provide consumers with a simple process to responsibly dispose of the packaging generated from the items they use and consume every day,” said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “Through this composting program, consumers can demonstrate their respect for the environment by taking an active role in the end-of-life processing of their favorite brand of chip.”
“Everyone can play an important role in bringing positive change for our planet,” said Marissa Solis, SVP of marketing for Frito-Lay North America. “We see these new, industrially compostable Off The Eaten Path bags as an easy way for consumers to forge a new path forward in creating a world where packaging never becomes waste.”
As an added incentive, Off The Eaten Path brand will also donate $1 to Ocean Conservancy for every specially marked industrially compostable bag returned to TerraCycle by May 30, 2022, up to $192,000.
“We are thrilled to team up with Off The Eaten Path with the launch of these new, compostable bags,” said Edith Cecchini, project director for corporate strategy and policy, ocean conservancy. “Packaging design innovations such as this will move us a little closer to a circular economy, and an ocean free of trash.”
