An estimated 25 million trees and bamboo plants are used each year for the flimsy, single-use chopsticks that you can find in almost every Chinese eatery. While single-use chopsticks may be a convenient option for restaurant owners and patrons alike, there is a small group of Chinese DIY designers and young environmentalists who are taking initiative to counter their use.

One such group called “Unigreen” has made an open offer online to hand-stitch a free chopstick / soup spoon holder for anyone who pledges to only carry reusable chopsticks. Grassroots initiatives from the younger, more environmentally aware generation in China may signal a small but meaningful shift in thinking away from China’s current consumption habits.

“Unigreen” Designers Against Single-Use Chopsticks Event Page