Valerie Song

Chopsticks are traditionally used with (amongst others) Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai, Burmish cuisines. It is such a popular eating utensil in Asia that up to 130 million pairs of chopsticks, and equivalent of 100 acres of trees, are used every day.

The wooden version of this widely used eating utensil often seen in restaurants and food courts, however, has a very negative impact on the world and health.

So how is a pair of take-out chopsticks made (credit)?

1. Bamboo trees cut

2. Production in central Vietnam

3. Bleaching

4. Drying

5. Packing

6. Shipping

7. Wrapping

Now after the consumers use the chopsticks in restaurants, here is what happens:

To conserve money and “resources”, some people in China even resort to picking out thicker pairs of bamboo chopsticks and shaving off the outer sides to prepare for repackaging.

What other harmful effects do disposable chopsticks cause?

– factor to deforestation & desertification in China (causes landslides and floods)

– because bamboo can be expensive, chopsticks are often made from birch, a tree that takes 30 – 40 years to mature

So, let’s screw around, on the go, wherever we go.

One last video here showcasing reusable chopsticks that can be bought at Tzu Chi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnpVcL5FpbE