SunChips Get Green

“From communication to conversation”

Part of our redesign of SunChips.com involved the creation of a widget framework that would allow us to build applications on platforms like Facebook and MySpace. Frito-Lay had recently converted a portion of its Modesto, CA plant to solar energy, which meant that some of its SunChips would actually be created by the sun. The move was positioned as “a small step towards a healthier planet.”

The idea was then to open the conversation to consumers and as “What small steps would you take?” We created a Facebook application that takes users through a simple quiz that asks them what green steps they would take, and asks them to invite their friends to do the same. A user’s steps are then displayed on their profile page – basically forming a banner ad for SunChips that users have actually asked for.

Where it gets really interesting is that all these steps are aggregated on the Facebook application page, so that you can see how many steps have been taken, what demographic/regional/gender groups are taking the most steps, and so on.

The app basically visualizes the brand statement that “small steps can lead to big things”, and it does it in a fun and simple way. The application is in the process of implementation on other platforms (MySpace, Bebo, etc.) and new steps and potentially new “step counting” applications will be rolled out over time.