Snack Food: Not Good for You, But Good for the Environment?

Frito Lay initiates What’s the first thing you think about when you dive into that bag of chip?

“Umm… That’s good for the environment – a tasty too!”

Well, probably not. But perhaps it could be.

Frito Lay, maker of snacks we all know and love, has initiated “Net Zero” a pilot program at their Casa Grande Arizona plant designed to operate entirely “off the grid”, using renewable energy and recycled water.

The plan combines a number of technologies including membrane bio-reactor filters for recycling water, solar concentrators to utilize the region’s blazing sun, and biomass generators that can produce fuel from wood, landscaping debris, farm residuals, landfill gas or manure.

Once the program is fully implemented in 2010, the goal is to reduce energy and water consumption by 90% and greenhouse gas emission by up to 50%.

While other well established, energy-intensive companies fight the realities of global warming, water resource conservation, and energy production kicking and screaming, Frito Lay is one company quietly leading the way. As energy and utilities manager Al Halverson says, "We didn't just watch Al Gore's movie and wake up to climate change".

In fact, resource conservation has been a key corporate strategy for Frito Lay since 1999.

Kinda makes you want to rip open a bag of Fritos doesn’t it?

Sources and Further Reading
Tri-Valley Central
AZ Central
Frito-Lay

Tags: frito+lay+environment, industrial+renewable+energy, net+zero, energy+conservation, water+recycling

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[ READER COMMENTS ]

1

joshy79 said:

what? wow

Posted at 02:41 PM, on January 11 2008

2

Lauren said:

Yes, actually now I'm wanting some good ol' Frito Lays chips. I think it's great that they have decided to be a little more green about it. Especially for how many bags of chips they make.

Posted at 12:06 AM, on January 12 2008

Snack Food: Not Good for You, But Good for the Environment?

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