SunChips Compostable Bag Weekly Update #1


Can you see the bag? Look for the blue spots

Today marks the first week of my SunChips compostable bag experiment.  These updates will be brief without any fluff and stuff.  My format will be more scientific and less opinionated!

I.  Title: The SunChips Compostable Bag Experiment.

II.  Purpose:  To test the compostability of the SunChips bag.  Will it compost in a worm bin in 13 weeks, using the correct amount of browns and greens?

III.  Prediction:  I believe the bag will break down into usable compost in 21 weeks.  (I loved when I was 21!  Oh, that summer at college was amazing!).  I just picked that number out of my as%, just knowing it will be longer than 13 because SunChips recommends the hot composting method over the cold vermicomposting method. 21 just sounds like a good # and the movie wasn’t too bad either!  The book was better!

IV.  Materials:  Wonder Worman Bin, about 2lbs of Red Wigglers, a bunch of food scraps, a bunch of leaves, some peat moss, some shredded newspaper and about 30 compostable plates.  Those plates are still there since July, but they are slowly breaking down.  I will be tearing them up before December.  I gave those suckers 4 months (16 weeks) to do it themselves.  I think they need some of my help. Oh, I almost forgot and ONE SUNCHIPS bag!

V.  Procedure: Cover the SunChips bag with the bedding mixture and let is decompose with the help of the various decomposers that inhabit a Wonder Wormin bin.  Did you know there are more than Red Wigglers in a bin?  That’s saved for another post.

Bag in the bin. The plates are removed for better viewing.

VI.  Observations and Data: When the SunChips bag was first put into the bin on 11/10, the bin’s temperature was 60F.  On 11/18 the temperature was 58F.  When uncovering the bedding and looking at the bag, without taking it out of it’s place, the bag looked as it did at the initial start of the experiment.

It looks like things aren’t happening……… BUT WAIT!!!!

Look there's a rip in the bag!

The bag ripped when I took it out of the bin!  This is a sign.  The bag is breaking down on some molecular level!  I think……I have no idea, but for it to rip when I gently lifted it to take a picture, something must be breaking down within the bag!

VII.  Discussion:  Anyone want to discuss with me????  more later…

Happy Wormin’

Composting with worms can continue in the colder months!

bins surrounded with hay and a construction fence

I am often asked, “Wonder Worman what should I do with my Red Wigglers during the winter?”

Depending on my mood, I may reply…

“Oh, avid composter, don’t fear!  You can still feed your Red Wigglers!  Just put on your comfy, warm boots and venture out in the beautiful, fluffy white stuff and feed those wigglers.  Just make sure you add some soft, colorful leaves to the bins to create a thick layer of natural insulation.  You want to keep your babies warm!”

Some days, I can’t stand Central Oregon weather, and I may reply…well, I really wouldn’t say this.  It’s kind of rude…but wouldn’t it be fun.

“Oh, whatever, don’t worry about those dreadful, icky, cold, crappy, days.  Even though I can’t stand those days,  the Red Wigglers don’t mind!  Just feed them when you can! They’ll live.”

Actually, that doesn’t sound too bad!  I guess I can’t “go there” in my writing.  I am too worried I may offend someone.  My thoughts are a lot worse, not about the person asking the question.  It’s just the weather gets me down.

You can also gather some of your Red Wigglers and start a compost bin in your garage or laundry room, using a plastic container or bucket.  The rate at which they consume your scraps will be faster in warmer temperatures.

You can get some info off of my website, and you can also buy worms, too!

Happy wormin’

I think I might be dating Ingeo!

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Ingeo (pronounced in-gee-o) keeps popping up in my life and so unexpectedly!  I’ve developed an interesting relationship with this silly word but great product!

Ingeo was first introduced to me over the summer when I met with Linda, the owner of Elements Naturals.  Her compostable baby wipes are made with Ingeo, a plant based product which is 100% compostable.  I was very happy to meet Ingeo and was very impressed by it’s capabilities.  I also thought “Ooooooh, Ingeo, you are so soft!”

I didn’t run into Ingeo for quite sometime, until I bought a package of SunChips on Monday of last week.   I then thought, “OH, Ingeo, you are so LOUD!, but that’s o.k. you’re good for the planet.”

Four days later, while wrapping a present, I started to undress Ingeo!  Ingeo was covering my pretty yellow tissue paper. I then said , “ooooooh, Ingeo, you are sooooo smoooth!”

Then today the unspeakable happened!  I had my lips on Ingeo!!  While sipping a cup of coffee, I noticed the cup and lid were made with Ingeo.

Hmmmm, I am on the hunt for you Ingeo!  Where and when will we meet again?!  I can’t believe you had me kiss you without even asking!  You are one smooooth operator!

If you’d like to learn more about this smooth, soft, sometimes loud but good for the planet product click here! (And to also see if you, too, may have had or still have a relationship with Ingeo?!)

I am in the process of vermicomposting the SunChips bag, some baby wipes and now the coffe lid and cup!  I have to get rid of that evidence!

Frogger pen and pencil holder!

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An empty can which once housed delicious black olives was sitting in the recycling bin before "little a" got her hands on it!

Now it is absolutely gorgeous! Froggers and Polka dots!!

"little a" added her special touch of love

My, lovely, gentle, sweet, kind, father-in-law turned 75 yesterday.  “Little a” had made him a few gifts already and was not satisfied.  She needed one more!  As I was doing my “work stuff”, she was rummaging through the recycling bin under the cabinet.  She found a can and decided to make a pen and pencil holder.  At first, she was going to cover it with wrapping paper and call it good.  I suggested she use the fabric that she bought a few weeks ago. She liked the idea and was off and running to create something special.

She made sure she had all of her supplies.

1) the can

2) some fabric

3) scissors

4) hot glue gun (be so careful with these! ouchy!)

5) a permanent marker

As she was working, I made sure to take pictures.  She was recycling!

I was so proud when she gave her grandpa the gift, and he was so honored to have received it!  Receiving a home made gift from a child is really special!  I was fighting the tears that were building in my eyes as he was opening the gifts from the kids.  When he was finished, I scooted to the bathroom and let them flow.  I thought I got away undetected, but then there was a knock at the door.  Carlos was there and saw that I was crying.  He gave me a huge hug.  I had to let him know that he has a wonderful, sweet kind dad!  I cleaned up my face and headed back to the party!  Carlos wasn’t the only one who saw my tears…. (geez, I need to control those things!)  My sister-in-law, Patty, was standing there and gave me a hug and whispered in my ear “There’s nothing better than this.  This right here is as good as it gets!”  I couldn’t agree more!  The love from family members is so freakin’ overwhelming sometimes!

Pretty cool stuff! Just a piece of correspondance between me and Frito-Lay

Hi,

I am so excited to begin my composting experiment with the compostable bag!  Thanks for creating this product.  I am promoting the bag and really don’t care about the noise.  I understand Frito Lay needs to listen to consumers in order for the product to survive, but was upset to see that there was a change back to the plastic bags while research is being conducted.  I am the owner of Wonder Worman, a composting service business in Bend, Oregon.  I sell Red Wiggler composting worms and worm bins.  I also work with the Environmental Center, setting up our local schools with worm bins and composting bins.  Please view my blog and web site.  I will be updating the blog with the observations of my experiment on a regular basis.

www.wonderworman.com

http://wonderworman.blogspot.com/

Best to the business!

Laurie – Red Wiggler Merchant

Frito-Lay’s response

Hi Laurie,

Thank you for your enthusiastic response on Snack Chat about our SunChips compostable package.  I’m not an expert on composting but have been told that the package does not break down as well in vermi-compost, because it is a cold compost method.  The ideal compost temperature needed for our package to decompose is 120-140 degrees.  To achieve this temperature there are some great suggestions on www.sunchips.com.  Your business venture sounds like an exciting one, and certainly needed with the growing sentiment we’ve seen from consumers about being good stewards of our planet.  We wish you the very best in your endeavor and thank you again for supporting our earth-friendly initiative.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Best regards,

Linda Phelps

Frito-Lay Consumer Affairs