Are Canadians more concerned about the environment than their neighbors south of the border?

Here’s the story:

Snack food giant Frito-Lay introduced a new compostable chip bag in both Canada and the U.S. made from plant-based materials that decompose quickly.

The problem? The bags are really noisy.

So according to this Vancouver Sun article, “Chips bags too noisy for U.S., but a hit in Canada,” the company received so many complaints from American customers that they stopped using the new bags in the United States.

In Canada, though, Frito-Lay is promoting the bags’ eco-friendliness, and apparently their strategy is working.

“Just put them in a bowl,” suggests Bonnie Bowers Wilson of Campbellford, Ont. in a recent Toronto Star article:

“I live in a noisy household. I have the television on, a noisy Jack Russell and three cats. I don’t understand the concern about the noise.”

She thinks Canadians are more willing to make changes for the environment than Americans.

The company has even created a YouTube video for the Canadian market, as well as a Canadian Facebook page, touting the bags’ environmental goodness.

In my experience, Canadians do pride themselves on their environmental awareness, and many Canadian cities are frequently lauded for their green policies (see “Where is the world’s top eco-city?“).

What about you? Do you think the compostable chips bags are too noisy? Or is it worth it for the environment? Leave a comment and let us know.

And a note to our readers from the U.K.: we’re talking about chips — a.k.a. crisps — not the fried potatoes you eat with fish!

Sun Chips photo by cogdogblog (flickr)