It may seem like an inconsequential decision with your next takeaway meal or when going out for dumplings and a katsu curry, but the type of chopsticks you choose says a lot about you as a person and can have a tremendous effect on the planet. But what are the differences between bamboo chopsticks and your standard wooden ones?
"Whilst wooden chopsticks are very common, wood typically takes a long time to produce, with trees often taking between 30 and 50 years to grow and not always growing back when they are cut down."
Long Time Coming Whilst wooden chopsticks are very common, wood typically takes a long time to produce, with trees often taking between 30 and 50 years to grow and not always growing back when they are cut down. It is not a particularly sustainable way of manufacturing, especially as demand increases. With forests acting as carbon sinks that remove harmful pollutants from the air, their long regrowth period means that cutting them down can cause more damage to the environment than is initially seen.
Rapid Regrowth Bamboo, on the other hand, is a rapidly growing plant from the grass family, and whilst they also form carbon sinks, they continue to grow up to three metres a year when harvested, making them a far more sustainable material to use in the production of cutlery.
No Chemicals Wooden products also tend to have a chemical coating or varnish to protect them from heat and water, but bamboo is naturally heat resistant and, if dried correctly, far less vulnerable to water too. As such, My Little Panda’s bamboo products don’t use any harmful chemicals or BPAs which can both leak into your food, and the environment when disposed of, causing harm to both you and the planet. A healthier, more natural way is available in bamboo.
“Wooden products also tend to have a chemical coating or varnish to protect them from heat and water, but bamboo is naturally heat resistant and, if dried correctly, far less vulnerable to water too. "
Other Alternatives There are, of course, plenty of other alternatives to wooden chopsticks on the market, but they also have issues with suitability. Plastic is a commonly used material but doesn't break down when disposed of and so causes a massive pollution problem, whilst metal options, like stainless steel, can contain varying amounts of carbon, silicon and manganese, which can be detrimental to your health.
My Little Panda offers reusable bamboo chopsticks in their own hemp carry pouch as well as putting them in our lunch sets too. Visit the store to buy your eco-friendly chopsticks.