Bring Your Own week: chopstick bras and bamboo knives

This week's eco-topic: Bring Your Own

Liked the bra-becomes-BYO-bag idea? Then what about the chopstick bra, complete with collapsible chopsticks and a removable chopstick rest between the cups?

That bra-chopstick combo is not for sale, but lots of BYO chopstick options exist for sushi-addicted environmentalists tired of those one-use pairs. You can pick up a collapsible stainless steel pair at L.A.'s Japanese American National Museum (right), stop by an REI for a pair made from stainless steel and recycled birch wood from old baseball bats, or pick from a number of options online.

I got my cute set (left) as a gift from my mom. No idea where she found it, but the decorative ends are a teensy spoon and fork, so they're technically multipurpose if I decide to eat lilliputian meals.

Totable utensils are also available: Sigg makes an especially handsome stainless steel set (right), complete with a nylon pouch. To-Go Ware offers a bamboo utensil set (left) -- including a pair of chopsticks -- that you can roll up in a pretty cloth holder. My one quibble with the bamboo stuff has to do with the knife: I'm just not sure it's useful for actually cutting food, though I can see how it's fine for, say, spreading mustard --

Of course, if you're just packing a lunch for work, the easiest option is just to throw in a set of flatware you have at home. The collapsible, totable stuff might make it easier for you to remember to BYO, though -- and be more convenient for picnics and camping trips.

Top to Bottom: Photos courtesy of JANM, reusablebags.com and To-Go Ware

Comments

[Danny Bradfield]

I usually have no problem remembering to throw in a set of flatware from home. I just drop it into my daypack with my lunch. However, I do sometimes forget to dig it out of my daypack when I get home, so that it can be washed ... something that can present problems of its own. :-)

Glad I found this blog, especially as I'm moving (back) to LA this week. (Burbank actually.) Keep it up!

[Siel]

Thanks Danny -- and welcome back! :)