It’s funny how the tides of public opinion and influence trends.

Take the “green” movement for example. I have nothing against it. In fact, I think we live in a wasteful society and I believe any way to curb that should be encouraged as well as protecting the Earth and its inhabitants against harmful pollution.

With that aside, the past few years most people have taken the “green” movement and ran with it. Your organic vegetables fit perfectly into that reusable grocery bag, which goes great with your organic cotton shirt that matches your shoes made out of recycled plastic bottles…and so on.

American society, like any, forms trends that come and then are gone. Unfortunately, being “green” falls into that category. Instead of going “green” to help the environment around them, some choose to use the lifestyle like a passing trendy handbag. The most recent instance being the Sun Chips bag.

More than a year ago, Frito-Lay created a 100 percent compostable bag for their Sun Chips snacks. The bag was a big hit with Sun Chips lovers, but it came with big hitch. The bag is noisy.

Apparently really noisy—to the point that enraged Sun Chips lovers took to the Internet to voice their displeasure. A Facebook page, “Sorry But I Can’t Hear You Over This Sun Chips Bag,” boasts more than 44,000 friends. Others posted videos on YouTube declaring a new bag noise pollution.

Really? Over a bag?

I have to say, I don’t eat Sun Chips often and, therefore, I’ve never held one of these bags in my hands. So as far as how noisy these things are, I can only say what I’ve seen and heard on YouTube. They seem raucous, but worrisome? Not really. And have any of these people heard of a bowl?

You have to wonder why people fret over the noise of a bag when I’m sure there are other issues “worry worthy.”

The response from Sun Chips consumers has prompted Frito-Lay to yank the bags from the shelves and rather sell the chips in their former regular non-recyclable bag. Bye, bye green trend, you’re too noisy.

Meanwhile, the company is hoping to create a new compostable bag with less noise to satisfy those up in arms about the issue.

If only local, state, national and world issues had as much participation. If only society would focus on those things instead of putting their hands into a potato chip bag.

Amanda VanDerBroek is a Staff Writer for the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald. For comments and column suggestions email: amanda.vanderbroek@r-cnews.com or call (252) 332-7209.