During a recent programme in Penang, we went out on numerous makan trips. We love our food adventures and being in Penang, we just had to go out and try some of the local delicacies there.

Knowing how hawkers tend to give out wooden chopsticks like there’s no tomorrow, we whipped out our own pair of re-usable stainless steel chopsticks and dug into the food. Sitting there having a meal together amidst the many patrons and hawker stalls, we actually felt quite proud of our chopsticks. We piled up the unused disposable chopsticks (about 10 pairs) and gave them back to the hawker.

We felt a sense of pride of what we did. Having conducted many programmes outdoors, we are disappointed to witness many forms of destruction to the environment. Piles and piles of rubbish are a common sight at picnic venues amidst the lush greenery of nature.

Bad, bad, bad for the environment!

DJP has always been a strong advocate for the environment. Every employee carries a personal pair of re-usable chopsticks and we often use them when we eat out. To help raise awareness and spread the message, we have imported 500 pairs of re-usable chopsticks to be distributed out to our corporate clients. They come in special casings with a clip. It’s very light and portable. Men can carry it in their pockets and women can put it in their handbags.

In a recent kids programme, our stainless steel chopsticks were sold out. We found that many of the younger generation loved it because it’s “hip” and “cool” to be carrying one around. Since the article came out in the Star newspaper, some of our personal friends have requested for a pair simply because it was ’stylish’.

DJP reusable chopsticks. Good for the environment and stylish too!

For easy mobility, the chopsticks come in two halves. All one needs to do is to assemble it by screwing the top and bottom half together (see picture above). So far, the trend of using re-usable chopsticks is not that popular yet in Malaysia, but we hope that it will catch up soon.

China uses about 45 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks annually, which equals to about 25 million full grown trees. Japan uses about 24 billion pairs a year. The depletion of rainforests worsens the greenhouse effect, disrupts delicate eco-systems and destroys home of endangered species.

This is what happens to disposable chopsticks. Such a waste and disaster to the environment.

Realising these effects, some companies in Japan and China have taken action to support the use of reusable chopsticks in their canteens. The Chinese government has pledged to reduce the disposables by 365 million to promote its goal of a ‘green Olympics’. DJP joins the ranks of ‘green’ companies worldwide through the use of reusable chopsticks.

We hope that in time, more companies will support the use of re-usable chopsticks and help save some trees.
The chopsticks are for sale at cost price (RM20) to participants on our programmes.