In a few words: When disposable tableware is made of wood, will we have enough trees?

Niu Niu: Xiaobing, why do KFC spoons now use wooden ones? They are so flat. It’s ok for me to eat mashed potatoes, but how can I drink soup?

Binghai: Oh, it’s because of the plastic restriction order. According to the “Implementation Plan on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control” issued by various cities: by the end of 2020, the catering industry in each city will be prohibited from using non-degradable disposable plastic straws, and catering dine-in services will be prohibited from using non-degradable disposable plastic tableware. So KFC can no longer provide plastic spoons.

Niu Niu: Is it for environmental protection? I know that even if non-degradable plastic bags are buried deep underground, it will take about 200 years to degrade, which is quite polluting to the environment, so I support this policy.

Binghai: Well, banning the use is one thing, but banning the use of A and forcing the use of B are two different things. We definitely support the policy, but whether KFC must use wooden spoons, or why it must use such a flat wooden spoon, is another matter.

Niu Niu: I have a question. Is it really more environmentally friendly to use wooden tableware? Maybe spoons are used less, but the number of chopsticks is too huge.

Binghai: Whether using wooden disposable tableware is environmentally friendly is a complicated question. We can first confirm some facts before discussing it. For example, there are relevant standards for disposable tableware (GB 19790-2005), and they are made of fast-growing tree species such as birch and poplar.

Niu Niu: No, that's not right. No matter how fast trees grow, the current consumption is huge, right? Is it environmentally friendly to cut down so many trees?

Binghai: In fact, the wood consumed by disposable chopsticks is less than a fraction of the standing timber volume. At present, my country's disposable wooden chopsticks are used in an amount of about 45 billion pairs, and the wood consumed is 1.66 million cubic meters. Generally speaking, a fast-growing poplar tree that grows for 5 years can provide 0.3 cubic meters of wood. And one acre of forest land can usually plant 30 fast-growing poplar trees. So on average, one acre of forest land can provide about 1.8 cubic meters of wood in one year. In this way, to provide 1.66 million cubic meters of wood, about 922,200 acres of land are needed. Even if the loss or the reduction in production caused by inadequate management is taken into account, doubling the planting area will only require 1.84 million acres of forest land. At present, the total area of ​​poplars in my country has reached more than 10.1 million hectares, or 151.5 million acres. That 1.84 million acres is just a fraction of a fraction. According to People's Daily Online, a county in Jiangsu alone has more than 600,000 mu of forests and 6 million cubic meters of standing timber. 1.66 million cubic meters may seem like a scary number, but it is only a small part of the plantations. The key issue here is that using wooden chopsticks easily reminds people of cutting down trees.

Niu Niu: So that’s how it is. It’s not about going into the deep mountains and forests to cut down ancient trees. My imagination was wrong.

Binghai: The key point is that planting is faster than consumption. Moreover, trees absorb carbon dioxide and fix the carbon in the wood. Then we make disposable chopsticks and plant the next batch of trees at the same time. As long as the process is properly coordinated, it will not only not harm the environment, but may even contribute to it.

Niu Niu: You are wrong. The production of disposable chopsticks also involves bleaching, fumigation and other environmentally polluting operations. Haven’t you considered the harm to the environment caused by the substances discharged during these operations?

Binghai: So I said, this matter is very complicated, not as simple as many people imagine, it requires all kinds of professional knowledge and research to figure it out, but we have confirmed the following facts: 1. Wooden disposable chopsticks are basically made of small wood with a breast diameter of less than 30 cm, or scraps, and do not involve the issue of felling large trees. 2. The wood used for wooden disposable chopsticks is fast-growing wood, and the amount consumed is just a drop in the bucket compared to the standing stock of living trees in my country. 3. There is indeed unreasonable emission in the processing process, but in contrast, disposable plastic tableware also has difficult-to-solve emission problems in life.

Niu Niu: So how should we understand this issue?

Binghai: Instead of discussing which type of disposable tableware is better, it is better to use less disposable tableware as possible and use more self-prepared tableware.

Niu Niu: I support using your own tableware more often, but isn’t it also valuable to discuss which type of disposable tableware is better?

Binghai: As disposable tableware, even if we discuss which one is the best, it is difficult for it to be more environmentally friendly than reusable tableware. More importantly, no matter what the conclusion of our discussion is, "better" in the eyes of enterprises may not necessarily mean "environmentally friendly", right?

Niu Niu: Yes, even if we find the most environmentally friendly material, it will most likely come at a high cost.

Binghai: As long as they do not violate the law, it is difficult for companies to choose the "best environmentally friendly materials". They are more likely to balance "user experience" and "product cost" on the premise of meeting national standards. Even in some cases, some small companies will play a game between "meeting national standards" and "acceptable risk costs of being investigated".

Niu Niu: I still don’t agree. If we find the best environmentally friendly materials, can we force companies to implement it like we do with the plastic ban?

Binghai: The problem is that this kind of forced enforcement will cause companies to pay extra costs, which will ultimately be passed on to us consumers. Originally a bowl of mashed potatoes cost 6 yuan, and if the company cannot afford the cost of the spoon, and the price rises to 7 yuan, would you eat it?

Niu Niu: Yeah, what should we do then?

Binghai: If you can bring your own cutlery, you can still enjoy the 6 yuan mashed potatoes, right? So in the end, it is still what I said, "More people should advocate the use of their own, reusable cutlery."

Niu Niu: Yes, some coffee shops and milk tea shops can give you a discount if you bring your own cup.

Binghai: Although we have not come up with the ultimate answer today as to whether wood or plastic is more environmentally friendly, we can at least know that environmental protection comes at a price. So we should allow the public and the market to make more choices, and the one-size-fits-all approach of "must be XX" may reduce the room for choice and make many people feel uncomfortable.

Niu Niu: I think of the mobile phone charger. What do you think is the reason for not giving away chargers? Is it for environmental protection?

Binghai: Your question may even be more complicated than the question of "plastic vs. wood". What I mean is "not giving people a choice will make people uncomfortable". As for whether to give away chargers or not, and whether some environmental protection claims are right or wrong, I have to think carefully before expressing my opinions. I am very cautious.