Used Chopsticks Reshape Future of Sustainable, Circular Furniture

SINGAPORE, October 04, 2023 – Saving over 121,710 kg of CO2 emissions, ChopValue, a producer of circular materials, has collaborated with Asia’s top hotel chains to promote several sustainable projects involving the recycling of 2.5 million locally sourced chopsticks. The company was established in 2016, and since then, has recycled more than 124 million chopsticks, saving over six million kilogrammes of CO2 emissions globally; equivalent to the emissions of around 1,385 cars driven for an entire year.

In their business model, ChopValue collects discarded disposable chopsticks and converts them in to durable furniture, household and decorative items. The company is also well on the way to achieving the Singapore Green Building Products (SGBP) certification, which is reserved for the best sustainable practices in the nation.

The Work Boulevard Coworking spaces: 475,000 chopsticks recycled, 23,125 kg of CO2 saved

Among the noteworthy partnerships that ChopValue has entered into, is the luxurious Marina Bay Sands Singapore, where 1,140,375 chopsticks have been recycled, and 55,158 kg of CO2 has been saved. The innovative products created for the resort include cubed menu displays with embedded QR codes and special tags indicating dietary restrictions; and aesthetically chic wooden plaques that inform guests of linen change policies in hotel rooms.

“Marina Bay Sands has always remained committed to ensuring sustainability remains at the heart of our experiences and offerings. The partnership with ChopValue has allowed us to embrace sustainability without compromising on the premium experiences we offer our guests. Giving a new life to disposed chopsticks – through the creation of wooden plaques and menu cubes – is an example of how we can all stretch ourselves to be sustainable and creative at the same time. We hope to continue working with innovative suppliers like ChopValue to showcase locally recycled materials in unique ways,” says Meridith Beaujean, executive director of sustainability, Marina Bay Sands.

At The Work Boulevard co-working spaces, ChopValue has helped save125 kilogrammes of CO2 by recycling 475,000 chopsticks to create desks, tables, a feature wall and accessories such as phone stands.

The Work Boulevard_Hotdesks

The Work Boulevard founder Gaurav Joshi commented: “The Work Boulevard was built out of our desire to create a stylish and aspirational co-working space that fosters human connections throughout our community. ChopValue produces beautiful and functional products that are instant conversation starters for our members and guests. The fact that the furniture is made using recycled chopsticks collected locally in Singapore is simply incredible.”

General Manager of ChopValue Singapore Justin Lee highlighted the environmental impact of this venture, pointing out that more than 1 million dispostable chopsticks are trashed every day in Singapore alone. With this, they are able to build as many as 60,000 desks that are durable, functional and aesthetically pleasing.

However, he further stated that in spite of the progress they are making, the journey remains slow. “Many times, we are just trying to replace non-sustainable products with materials that are sustainably produced. This is doing nothing to replace the amount of waste created in the first place; which is what we need to actually do,” Lee noted.

Meanwhile, ChopValue is expanding its sustainability efforts across the APAC region, with the brand looking at collaborations with regionally based business and government leaders to promote the practice of eco-friendly innovation.

ChopValue’s CEO and founder, Felix Böck looks to encourage more individuals across the region to support and adopt more circular, climate-positive solutions. “Our generation will have the hard job to translate climate anxiety into hope; we can do this by every one of us taking responsibility towards real action,” he said.

The collection process

He further stated, “Our solution is to scale circularity responsibly. Chopsticks are currently a vastly underutilised waste resource in cities around the world, so we decided to do something about it. Our ChopValue® Natural MicroFibre Performance Material is a highly densified, solid composite material that can be used to create high-quality, market-appropriate products for a variety of applications.

“Through our method of urban harvesting and decentralised microfactories across more than 75 locations worldwide, we have turned over 124 million chopsticks waste into a valuable resource. But our ultimate goal is not just about reducing waste; it’s about forging a sustainable future for circular furniture and redefining how we think about waste materials. Together, we hope to rewrite the narrative, one chopstick at a time, and usher in a more hopeful and sustainable future for the Asia Pacific and beyond,” he added.