Why Costco decided to test bags for its famous fried chicken

Among Costco’s many other attractive features is the chain’s wildly popular fried chicken. The reason Costco’s fried chicken tastes so good is no secret, and the chain also announced a recent change that has customers talking. As explained in the online edition of Costco Connection magazine, the big box store is packaging its fried chicken in plastic bags at select locations instead of the hard plastic packaging the product is typically sold in. According to Costco, the switch is expected to reduce the store’s plastic use by 17 million pounds and potentially reduce carbon emissions by 4,000 tons because the new packaging takes up less space in transport trucks.

It’s unclear which locations are currently using the new bags, although Packaging Dive reported that they were first used at a location in Issaquah, Washington. However, Consumer Reports stated that the new packaging will gradually be rolled out nationwide. It’s always a good thing when companies try to reduce their plastic use, but some Costco customers have raised more practical concerns on social media.

Read more: All the benefits of a Costco membership

Costco fans unhappy about possible leaks in bags

Costco members are a pretty passionate bunch. For example, Costco’s decision to discontinue its sausage sandwich sparked a fierce outcry among customers; a Reddit thread discussing the new bags also had some concerned customers. Those concerns were further heightened by an image in the post showing the new bags sitting in a puddle of fried chicken goo. One commenter claiming to have direct experience with the chicken bags said, “The bag was super greasy when I got one today.” Meanwhile, another person said they had to re-seal the bag after purchasing it and were left with “grease drips all over the floor and into the trash can” after removing the chicken from the bag at home.

On TikTok, Costco fans were a little less enthusiastic when discussing the new packaging. One commenter stated that the bags would be less likely to leak compared to the plastic containers, and another person backed up that claim by saying, “Honestly, those hard containers would always pop open in the car and spill juice everywhere.” People on both platforms emphasized that the bags are already in use in Canada and seem to be working well. While it’s good to know that leakage may not be as big of an issue as previously thought, there remains a question about the environmental friendliness of Costco’s new bags.

Can you recycle fried chicken bags?

In addition to the leaks, a Reddit commenter also raised concerns about the recyclability of the new packaging. While the exact composition of Costco’s bags isn’t clear, plastic bags are notoriously difficult to recycle. Many types of plastic bags aren’t included in recycling programs, and even when Costco bags are included, it’s not possible to recycle materials covered in food scraps.

As for the clamshell packaging Costco has used for its fried chicken so far, these materials are recyclable if they are made of polyethylene terephthalate (again, it’s worth noting that it’s not clear if the clamshell packaging contains this type of plastic). However, due to manufacturing variances and potential contamination from stickers placed on the packaging, not all recycling programs accept clamshell packaging. Accordingly, it appears that neither form of packaging is easily recycled.

While the new bags may not be recyclable, they will have a positive environmental impact if Costco’s initial estimates hold true. Angry Costco members should keep an open mind when it comes to changing the packaging. One level-headed Redditor opined, “You want a $5 chicken? That’s what you get.” Considering Costco’s rotisserie chickens contain a surprising amount of meat, customers will likely overlook their initial complaints about the bags.

Read the original article on The Daily Meal.