SunChips, National Geographic announce winners of 'Green Effect' initiative

PLANO, Texas In conjunction with National Geographic, The SunChips brand, PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division's line of multigrain snacks, announced the five winners of the "Green Effect," a national effort to encourage consumers to be more environmentally friendly.

In April 2009, SunChips and National Geographic asked consumers to submit their ideas on how to make their communities greener. Hingham High School's, of Hingham, Mass., "Give Plants a Chance" entry was the top-voted consumer idea, which plans to create a campus greenhouse to help educate students on how to live a completely sustainable life.

Four other winners were chosen by a panel of eco ambassadors, all of whom received a $20,000 check to help turn their green idea into reality.

"We're extremely proud of the five winners and believe in the big changes each of them will bring to their community," said Gannon Jones, VP portfolio marketing, Frito-Lay North America. "In the end, the judges and consumers based their votes on the mission of the 'Green Effect' which was to support compelling ideas that would truly accelerate green change, as well as inspire others to make their own changes."