Chopsticks

Disposable chopsticks made from bamboo or wood have become ubiquitous and synonymous with take-away food. Many millions are used once and discarded every day. In China alone, an estimated 45 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks are produced annually. In response to this some countries, such as Taiwan, have introduced a levy on single use chopsticks, much like the one commonly imposed on plastic shopping bags, to encourage people to carry their own chopsticks to be used again and again. It is in this context that the ‘Norm’ and ‘Nest’ reusable chopsticks were designed.

Referencing its single use counterpart, ‘Norm’ chopsticks are made from resilient acrylic plastic with a flexible and easy to clean silicone sleeve. Hidden magnets inside the ends of the chopsticks keep them together when stored and allows them to be separated with a satisfying snap, mimicking the familiar gesture of breaking apart a pair of bamboo or wooden chopsticks.

‘Nest’ adopts a slightly different approach. Here the objective was to design a premium quality chopsticks and spoon set, which was integrated into the smallest package possible. The result is an elegant yet robust set of reusable telescopic chopsticks, made from durable stainless steel and melamine. The retracted chopsticks fit neatly in the handle of the spoon and are held in place by a silicone band which also doubles as a chopstick rest.