22 Apr 2010 --- In the same week the nation celebrates Earth Day, Boulder Canyon Natural Foods has unveiled plans for a compostable package for its popular All Natural Kettle Cooked Potato Chip line. The Company believes that the 7.5-ounce bag, made from wood pulp sourced from plantations that have Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) or similar certification, is the first compostable packaging developed for the natural snack food category. The new packaging is available immediately at Colorado-area Whole Foods stores with a suggested retail price of $3.49-$3.99 per package.

The Boulder Canyon compostable packaging is made from materials that are certified to meet the "Specification for Compostable Plastics" standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. The bags can be composted in home or industrial composters, recycled through approved organic recycling programs, or incinerated at modern incineration plants.

In contrast to the corn and starch-based compostable bag recently introduced by a leading traditional snack manufacturer, the Boulder Canyon bags are made from wood pulp to mitigate any potential negative impact on existing food supplies.

Consumers interested in the greening of their snacking won't be forced to pay a big premium for supporting Mother Earth either; the cost per-ounce is similar to that of Boulder Canyon chips in standard five-ounce bags.

"At the core of the Boulder Canyon Natural Foods brand is a desire to eat naturally, free of additives and artificial ingredients, while also being good to the planet," said Steve Sklar, senior vice president of marketing for Boulder Canyon. "Our new compostable packaging should make a positive impact on landfill waste, so we're excited to see this day come."

Boulder Canyon is a national sponsor of American Rivers, the leading river conservation organization in the United States. In addition, Boulder Canyon purchases enough Renewable Energy Credits to offset 100 percent of its operating emissions annually. This effort prevents nearly 3.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere each year.

Boulder Canyon retail sales have grown 31% and outpaced the natural potato chip category from 2007-2009 according to SPINS Natural Channel Data.

Since its inception in 1994, Boulder Canyon Natural Foods has challenged the potato chip paradigm with delicious, all-natural kettle cooked chips in several varieties, including Malt Vinegar & Sea Salt, Spinach & Artichoke, and The Company's new Rice & Adzuki Bean snack chip. Boulder Canyon offers more than 20 unique snack products made with only the freshest all natural ingredients.