As an avid composter for about 6 years, I know all of the right conditions need to be present for the optimum breakdown to occur, adding the right amount of brown and green waste and also reaching the right temperature. These conditions, I believe only happen in a controlled environment. The Sunchips bags were tested in a facility which maintained the composting temperature at 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The bags broke down in about 12-16 weeks. Realizing a home composter would not have access to those conditions, the SunChips testers mimicked a home composting bin and added browns and green waste to the SunChips bags. The bags broke down in about 13 weeks. They also conducted an Industrial Composting Standards test which is way beyond my backyard so I am not going to discuss all that they did.......
Basically, they passed a rigorous test protocol conducted by Cedar Grove in Seattle, Washington.
So, I am going to try two different composting methods, maybe even 3, depending on SunChip cravings!
1) Red Wiggler composting Bin
2) Backyard compost pile
3) Compost tumbler
All of these are already set up with brown and green waste. Temperatures will vary among the three.
I am thrilled SunShips created this compostable bag and am excited to see the results.
Happy Wormin'
2 comments:
Unfortunately Sun Chips is going to stop using that compostable bag because they got too many complaints about the noise (!). They are going back to the regular bag until compostable bag technology improves. NPR did a story on it on October 6, 2010.
Thanks for your comment...They are actually keeping the compostable bag for the Original Flavor only while they are conducting the research. The other flavors went back to the plastic. boohoo!
http://www.sunchips.com/healthier_planet.shtml?s=content_compostable_packaging
http://www.sunchips.com/healthier_planet.shtml?s=content_compostable_packaging
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