Companies Go Green for Consumers— and Profit

Company debuts new biodegradable packaging

(NEWSER) - Sun Chips is out with another biodegradable bag, but this time it swears you won't need ear protection. Frito-Lay backtracked on last year's really, really loud version amid complaints, ridicule, and poor sales. Now the company has begun putting a new biodegradable bag on shelves (for the "Original" chips), and it says the noise is on par with regular bags thanks to a new adhesive between the crinkly inner/outer material, reports Fast Company . We'll see. More»

Environmentalists claim credit; industry blames economy

(NEWSER) - Bottled water sales are sinking, and environmentalists point triumphantly to their hard-fought campaign against the wasteful industry. Consumption is expected to drop 2% this year, following a 3.2% drop last year, MSNBC reports. But industry executives say it’s just a natural result of the economic downturn, noting that sales of soda and other drinks have seen even worse declines. More»

(NEWSER) - Fears of salmonella contamination have led more companies in the US and Canada to recall their pistachio products, Reuters reports. FritoLay, which is supplied by the supposed source of the contamination, California packager Setton International, is pulling packages of certain sizes and sell-by dates on both sides of the border. Another snack maker and the Kroger supermarket chain have done the same. More»

Eco-friendly building material branches out beyond fairy tales

(NEWSER) - The newest surprise climate-saving tool is straw walls, and the Big Bad Wolf may have underestimated the First Little Pig’s shelter, the Washington Post reports. Instead of drywall or insulation, contractors stack the farm waste around buildings’ skeletons and then coat it with plaster. The eco-friendly result looks like stucco and keeps buildings cool. More»

Environment minister warns US against proceeding with plan

(NEWSER) - Citing environmental concerns, Mexico is calling on the US to revise its plan to expand border fences. The current layout threatens fragile ecosystems in the Sonora Desert area and could wipe out endangered species like the Mexican black bear, a new report shows. Mexico is ready to take the US to international court if it doesn't respond, the BBC reports. More»