So why is it important to reuse disposable wooden utensils like chopsticks?
Short answer:
3.8 million trees are made into chopsticks and thrown away each year, while large swaths of land are deforested. Recycled chopsticks provide the wood necessary for things like home decor, thus reducing this deforestation.
In detail:
Around 52 billion chopsticks are produced in China each year, and around half is exported internationally. The amount of wood used - over 2 million trees - is extremely unsustainable and is only increasing the rate of deforestation. In investigations of suspicion manufacturing of these chopsticks, the media has exposed industrial-grade sulfur, paraffin, hydrogen peroxide, and insect repellant in their processes. One of which, paraffin, is a well known carcinogen. Hydrogen peroxide is also known for its ability to harm the digestive system. Thus it is important that chopsticks are not littered as these chemicals are detrimental to water and soil quality.
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