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alsame

(7,784 posts)
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 09:12 AM Jun 2014

Eco-Friendly Chopsticks



Rice-Based Chopsticks More Stylish Than Original (and Eco-Friendly, Too?)

Think about how many times you’ve chucked a pair of disposable wooden chopsticks in the trash. Now multiply that 80 billion times. According to data from 2013, China alone produces 80 billion disposable chopsticks a year, which requires hacking down 20 million 20-year-old trees on the regular just to meet demand.

But a new product may help turn the tide: RiceIt, an eco-friendly pair of chopsticks made using rice husks—a product of rice production—and polymer. Its inventors have turned to Kickstarter to raise the funds necessary to up its production capacity and get the chopsticks into more hands.

"Chopsticks are so popular that 200 football fields of aspen and bamboo trees are harvested every day to produce 136 million chopsticks that end up in the trash after being used," reads RiceIt’s Kickstarter page. "Such production levels of wooden chopsticks represents a significant environmental challenge.” No kidding.

The Kickstarter still has about a week to go, but it hasn’t come close to hitting its goal of $19,500. Swing over if you’re interested in contributing—and potentially saving a few trees.

VIDEO Here:
https://d2pq0u4uni88oo.cloudfront.net/projects/1020642/video-393860-h264_high.mp4


https://www.yahoo.com/food/think-about-how-many-times-youve-chucked-a-pair-89765214691.html
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Eco-Friendly Chopsticks (Original Post) alsame Jun 2014 OP
K&R Coventina Jun 2014 #1
I don't know much about aspen harvesting and reproduction ProdigalJunkMail Jun 2014 #2
Cost Xithras Jun 2014 #4
metal sporks have been known to last 100 years snooper2 Jun 2014 #3
Reusable chopsticks don't cost that much IronLionZion Jun 2014 #5

ProdigalJunkMail

(12,017 posts)
2. I don't know much about aspen harvesting and reproduction
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 10:45 AM
Jun 2014

but I think making them out of bamboo ain't so bad... we have nice chopsticks here at home that we reuse over and over but it is mind-boggling how many get burned through daily!

sP

Xithras

(16,191 posts)
4. Cost
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 11:56 AM
Jun 2014

Bamboo chopsticks cost about 5-7 cents a pair in bulk. Wooden ones cost about two cents. Much of China is still dirt poor, so they choose the cheaper option.

And that will probably be the stumbling block for these rice husk chopsticks as well. There are a hundred different materials that chopsticks can be made out of. There aren't many that can be sold as cheaply as wood.

IronLionZion

(45,261 posts)
5. Reusable chopsticks don't cost that much
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 01:22 PM
Jun 2014

I hate the disposable kind so much. I suppose its mostly for takeout or fast food type places but still. Chopsticks are very easy to wash.

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