When looking at a pair of used chopsticks, most people would see nothing but waste. But Felix Bock would see boxes, tables, shelves and so on.
In 2016, Felix Bock, a doctoral student at the University of British Columbia, Canada, found out people away about 100, 000 pairs of chopsticks every day in Vancouver alone. He felt he needed to do . So he started the company ChopValue in the same year. The company collected used chopsticks restaurants, schools and shopping centers in Canada and the US, and turned them into furniture and other artworks. Now in its fifth year, with the growth of the company, Bock employs (雇佣) 40 people. By using his special methods of steam and press machines, he has 32 million pairs of chopsticks.
Bock takes in his work. And he hopes the idea behind ChopValue will help people rethink they see as waste. "I believe every small action can help," he said. "And I am happy that my business provides a way for people." Hundreds of restaurants across North America pay a small sum of money to Bock for the recycling of their chopsticks. Bock doesn't stop there. Now he is busy taking his business to more countries and has set up for recycling local wood like chopsticks in 10 countries.
