universalflo

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007

What do you know about disposable chopsticks?

So I was doing a lesson on the environment yesterday in a Discussion class and the topic of disposable chopsticks (わりばし/waribashi) came up. One of my students said that there was no problem with using disposable chopsticks because they were all simply the trimmings of lumber intended for housing. I didn't believe her and gave us both homework to find the proof of our convictions.

Here are 3 articles I've found that shed more light on the subject. All 3 say that most (96-98%) of Japan's disposable chopsticks come from other countries (mostly China). While a very small percentage of disposable chopsticks come from domestic sources which support anti-erosion and reforestation efforts in a very roundabout way, the use of disposable chopsticks is on the whole, simply a waste of natural resources.

Even using domestic sources, the fuel used to transport the billions of chopsticks from their manufacturers to their distributors detracts from any other justifications I've found.

The 3 articles are in PDF format from:

The Times Online

ABC News

Planet 2025 News

My student's assertions were not the first of the sort that I've heard. Even some very well-educated folks have been convinced that using disposable chopsticks is actually good for the world of soil and trees. This idea that "using small-diameter logs thinned from tree plantations as a raw material for disposable chopsticks would contribute to protecting Japan's steep mountain forests" seems very narrow-minded to me. Wouldn't these trees be better put to use in some non-disposable fashion? Surely someone has a better idea than this.

It seems to me that the Japanese media has been working overtime to justify an addiction to wastefulness.

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posted by flo on Wednesday, January 17, 2007

2 Comment(s):

on January 20, 2007, Blogger Unknown said...

Thanks for posting this information Flo. I just read the Times article, it surprises me that Beijing would consider banning the export of waribashi, taking a loss of capital to protect their land from deforestation is a wise move. It's difficult for developing nations to make this type of decision. If developed countries would cut back on importing beef and hardwood from Brazil perhaps there would be some hope for the Amazon too.

so-iku that iis good news. I hope the convenience stores don't switch to throw away plastic.

Kim

 
on March 16, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said...

this is one of those issues that I feel strongly about too and just posted on the japanenvironmentalnews blog and hiroshimagab about a great new resource for cute and small travelsticks to take along everywhere (great shop- slow water cafe).

Basically waribashi is evil, sure recycling them as we now see in some cafeterias is better than putting them in the gomi, but it is still better not to use them at all. I love pulling my chopsticks out and people thank me for using them, others tell me I am like an old samurai who would carry around his chopsticks, some restaurant people wash it for me afterwards- very sweet! Interestingly, when we mentioned on the map that Nobu sushi have reusable chopsticks (as a GOOD thing), they contacted us worried that it was a criticism and said, "we have waribashi if people want them!" I think there must be a feeling that re-using chopsticks is cheap and unclean here, that attitude needs to change. No one is bothered about re-using plates, glasses or forks, etc.. why should it be any different??

 

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