Each year in China the equivalent of 20 million 20-year-old trees are cut down to make 80 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks, according to Bai Guangxin, a deputy to the National People's Congress and CEO of China Jilin Forest Industry Group. We need to rethink our use of disposable chopsticks, says an article in gmw.cn. Excerpts:

The sandstorms in Beijing during the two sessions should be a wake up call about the alarming effects of deforestation. It's time we reduced the massive cutting down of trees for chopsticks.

Behind the consumption of disposable chopsticks are the false perceptions of consumers and the malpractices of the manufacturers.

People wrongly assume that disposable chopsticks are more hygienic. As a matter of fact, disposable chopsticks are excessively bleached and may be a risk to people's health.

The manufacturers, in the absence of a ban on disposable wooden chopsticks, take advantage of loopholes in the laws to minimize their costs. As a result some manufacturers sacrifice their social responsibility on the altar of profit.

People need to be made aware that using disposable chopsticks is actually detrimental to a healthy lifestyle, as trees are necessary for us to live. At the same time, restaurants need to be encouraged to use reusable chopsticks or other substitutes.

(China Daily 03/14/2013 page10)