Answer

Chopsticks Destroying the Forest

Dewey, C. (March 14, 2013). China’s Disposable Chopstick Addiction is Destroying its Forests. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/03/14/chinas-disposable-chopstick-addiction-is-destroying-its-forests/?arc404=true

In his article entitled China’s Disposable Chopstick Addiction is Destroying its Forests, Dewey (2013) describes how the chopstick industry is causing widespread deforestation in China. The author points out that twenty million trees are depleted yearly to feed the one-use chopstick practice. Dewey (20130) estimates that averagely, eighty billion chopsticks yearly are used which surpasses the fifty-seven billion estimation by China’s national forest agency. The author proceeds to state that the chopstick problem has caused a ruin of 1.18 million square meters of woodland yearly. Besides, the author highlights that the government in 2006 clamped down the through taxation. According to Dewey (2013), the chopstick industry got a cultural backlash from celebrities, activists, and environmental-minded youths. The author attributes this backlash to the fact that deforestation was blamed on the enormous mudslide that killed seven hundred people in China in 2010.

Gates, S. (March 11, 2013). Disposable Chopstick Demand Is Killing China’s Forests as Annual Production Reaches 80 Billion. HuffPost. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chopstick-china-forests_n_2853033

In her article, Gates (2013) highlights that China’s high demand for disposable chopsticks has risen by averagely 30 billion in the past year, and the necessity has become a liability to China’s forests. Also, government statistics between 2009 and 2015 indicate a fifty-seven billion yearly chopsticks production. Besides, the author indicates that the 57 billion chopsticks production accounted for the ruin of 3.8 million trees. The author explains how deforestation as an after-effect of chopstick production has triggered policy response form the Chinse government. The Chinese government introduced some policies to limit the manufacture of one-use chopsticks. Gates (2013) outline how the government policies scale from a 2006 five percent tax levy on chopsticks to warnings of government regulation for firms that decline to stringently oversee one-use chopstick manufacture. The author state that increased disposable chopstick manufacture could prevent China’s plans to increase its forestry coverage by forty million hectares before 2020.

Nuwer, R. (October 24, 2011). Disposable Chopsticks Strip Asian Forests. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/disposable-chopsticks-strip-asian-forests/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

Nuwer (2011) explains that although chopstick is the typical tableware selection in most of China, Asia, and Japan, chopstick production is causing massive deforestation. The author highlights how small restaurants in China opt for disposables whereas big cafes use disposable plastic. In Japan, disposables are used at sophisticated sit-down restaurants. As per the author, chopsticks contribute to the Asian deforestation problem which should be curbed to battle climate change because of the significant role trees assume in soaking- up carbon dioxide. Nuwer (2011) states that Greenpeace East Africa, which is a Chinese environmental activist organization, is raising awareness on this environmental problem. The author outlines a rising trend of recycling disposable chopsticks although some clients hesitate at eating with re-usable, mentioning sanitary worries. Nuwer (2011) highlights how disposable chopsticks posture threats for customers and the atmosphere. Besides, the author highlights how Chinese media investigations exposed how insect repellent, paraffin, hydrogen peroxide, and industrial-grade sulfur are amongst the destructive chemicals used in chopsticks production.

Nuwer (2011) argue that disposing of chopsticks can pollute water and soil quality. Although the Japanese government has no laws to manage the chopstick problem, some on-the-ground modifications are expanding approval. The author explains how some eateries are stocking plastic chopsticks and also keeping disposables on hand in case clients ask for them. The author highlights how in Japan’s convenience stores, cashiers are requesting customers if they want chopsticks instead of sticking them by default into check-out bags. Specific restaurants likewise provide markdowns or free tea for persons who carry their utensils. Nuwer (2011) highlights that the Chinese government has advised restaurants to go green. The author explains that the alternative to use of wooden disposable chopsticks is sanitizing the tableware after every use. However, the expense of sanitization is substantial. Disposables cost a penny each piece, whereas disinfection spans from fifteen to seventy cents. Cafés, mostly the low-end ones, are concerned about passing these charges on to the clients. The author states that Green peace advocates that the sterilization costs should not be passed on the clients as the food safety rule mandates cafés to offer free, hygienic, and secure tableware.  

Were you aware of these Issues?

I was not aware of the destruction that one-use chopsticks manufacture caused until I read the three articles. As per the United Nations 2008 report highlighted by Nuwer (2011), deforestation arising from chopstick production practices has several adverse environmental effects. Among the adverse effects in the rise in the greenhouse effect triggered by deforestation due to fewer trees available to photo-synthesize CO2 into oxygen for the earth to breathe in. Also, deforestation triggers the discharge of carbon dioxide from the soil since most of the carbon sinks on the earth. According to Nuwer (2011), China expends half of the disposable chopsticks, while Japan imports seventy-seven percent, twenty-one percent to South Korea and the US imports two percentile. Such statistics indicate how demanding the chopsticks are. Dewey (2013) and Gates (2013) highlight that, for China to maintain this demand, ten acres of trees are sacrificed daily causing 3.8 million destruction of trees. Among the reasons that chopsticks have become prevalent in Asia is the cooking and food serving tradition in small cuts that can be readily managed with chopsticks. Chopsticks are the ideal eating utensils for several Asian inspired foods and can likewise be utilized in eating salad, rice, and noodle-based dishes.

 I also learned that chopsticks cause human health risks because of the harmful products used during production. The substitute for disposable wooden chopsticks is plastic recyclable ones. All the challenges that accompany the usage of chemicals and petroleum’s in making plastics might be worth a trade for maintaining intact the 10,800 miles of Asian forest yearly considering the forests role in curbing climate change. Also, plastic chopsticks insulate carbon and keep it away, because of how long plastic takes to decompose in the environment. The campaign against disposable chopsticks by Greenpeace signifies China’s effort in trying to stop forest degradation and conserve the environment. Several restaurants have begun re-using chopsticks. China uses South Korea as a model because it changed to metal chopsticks and barred disposable chopsticks usage in several restaurants. Chinese government’s green taxation is a remarkable device in the battle against environmental damage. The chopstick tax is a component of China’s strategy to move the country to a more sustainable growth model with fewer environmental dilapidation.

Will you make changes based upon this information?

Yes. When I am eating Asian food, I will consider the selection of utensils cautiously, because the choices can affect resources such as forests that offer innumerable benefits. Among them is the easiest method of battling climate change via carbon sequestration. Forest destruction and dilapidation account for twenty percent of carbon emission globally yearly more than is discharged by the transport sector.  I will opt to use a knife and fork of titanium chopsticks because they are more hygienic than the wooden ones. The titanium chopsticks are dishwasher safe, environmentally friendly, and easier to clean. I will also opt for recyclable plastic chopsticks because they are more durable, reliable, and are re-used rather than being discarded.