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Questionnaire survey on the use of "eco" (reusable) chopsticks in the restaurant

Project name: Questionnaire Survey on the use of "eco" (reusable) chopsticks in the restaurant

Research conducted on: December 1 – 14, 2009

Subject (Respondents): Japanese males and females of age 20 – 59 who have ever eaten out in the restaurant where there are eco-chopsticks during the last one month (N=320)

Distribution of respondents:

Q. What is your opinion on the introduction of eco-chopsticks in the restaurant aiming at the reduction of the garbage? (SA)

Opinion on the introduction of eco-chopsticks in the restaurant (aiming at the reduction of garbage) N=320

44.7% of respondents stated that they value the introduction of eco-chopsticks in the restaurant and 33.1% answered that they value it very much. More than 70% of the respondents value the introduction of eco-chopsticks in the restaurant, while only 6.9% of respondents said that they don’t value the policy.

Among those who appreciate the introduction of eco-chopsticks, many of them gave a positive evaluation on the companies themselves which introduced eco-chopsticks appreciating their green action. Some respondents are anxious about the hygiene, but more than half of the respondents said that environmental issue is a top priority.

Q. Do you have some trouble or are you unhappy to use eco-chopsticks?

Whether they have trouble or are unhappy to use eco-chopsticks N=320

Two third of the respondents do not have any complaints about the use eco-chopsticks. The rest of the respondents (33.4%) answered that they are not quite satisfied with the use of eco-chopsticks. In the previous question slightly less than 80% answered that they value the introduction of eco-chopsticks, but the ratio of those who do not have any complaints about the use of eco-chopsticks is 66.6%. It turned out that about 10% value the introduction of eco-chopsticks but with some trouble. Some respondents are anxious about the hygiene, others says that the chopsticks are too slippery to pick up the foods.

Answers to this question imply that it is quite important to take a green action, but on the other hand people are anxious about the hygiene. Companies which wish to introduce eco-chopstick should not only take into account the environmental issue, but also they should be sensitive to consumers mind.

Q. Why do you “value very much” or “value to some degree” the introduction of eco-chopsticks? (FA)

Reasons why the respondents “value very much” or “value to some degree” the eco-chopsticks in the restaurant N=249

• The idea to use chopsticks repeatedly is very good, because before they were just thrown away after one-time use. I’ve become to take my own chopsticks with me and pay more attention to the environmental issues. (Male, 20’s)
• I think that the use of eco-chopsticks reduce the use of resource in vain. Also, it is good from the environmental point of view. (Male, 30’s)
• It is a total waste of resources to use disposal chopsticks. It brings a negative impact on the environment to cut down trees. (Male, 50’s)
• People have become to pay more attention to the ecology. We can cut back the deforestation by replacing disposal chopsticks by eco-chopsticks. (Female, 20’s)
• The use of eco-chopsticks promotes us to reduce the amount of garbage and to cut back the deforestation, but how about the polluted water after washing eco-chopsticks? I feel anxious about hygiene if the eco-chopsticks are left on the table without any cover. (30’s)
• I feel anxious about the hygiene of the chopsticks, but I am more anxious about the environmental issues. (Female, 50’s)

Q. What makes you feel unhappy about the use of eco-chopsticks? Or what kind of trouble do you have? (FA)

Complaints on the use of eco-chopsticks N=107

• I am not sure whether chopsticks are well washed. (Male, 20’s)
• Many restaurants do not take good care of eco-chopsticks. I saw many dirty and broken chopsticks. (Male, 30’s)
• I feel uncomfortable when it comes to my mind that before me someone used the chopsticks.(Male, 30’s)
• The chopsticks are slippery. (Male, 40’s)
• It is hard to hold foods because they are slippery. (Male, 40’s)
• In some restaurants I get suspicious whether the chopsticks are well washed. (Male, 50’s)
• If they use a lot of disinfectant, even eco-chopsticks could have a negative impact on the environment. (Female, 20’s)
• It would be a trouble if all the restaurants replace the chopsticks with reusable ones because I am not good at using chopsticks. (Female, 20’s)
• I highly value the fact that the eco-chopsticks are reusable, but I wonder whether they are hygienic and durable. (Female, 30’s)
• I feel anxious about its hygiene of the eco-chopsticks as it is not disposable ones. In some restaurants I received dirty chopsticks and asked them to bring new another pair of chopsticks. (Female, 30’s)
• It is difficult to eat rice with sauce and noodles with slippery eco-chopsticks. (Female, 40’s)
• I found grime on the chopsticks! (Female, 40’s)
• It is not clear at all whether the chopsticks are hygienic. They do not disclose necessary information. (Female, 50’s)
• The eco-chopsticks are too long and heavy. Especially when I eat noodles, it is really inconvenient to use them. (Female, 50’s)
• If the chopsticks are put vertically in a box, it is still ok, but if they lie in a box horizontally, many people could touch them and it makes me feel uncomfortable. (If people could touch only the upper part of the chopsticks, I do not mind) (Female, 50’s)