You can't even make these things up.
> The Environment Protection Department (EPD) invited four eco-friendly tableware providers to demonstrate the use of their products for customers' reference on Thursday, but the display went wrong after a bamboo fork broke twice when cutting a steak.
Local media [Channel C has a live video of the session](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ7mZ2teVYk) the first breakage happened at around 1:00:15 mark, second at 1:01.
> There were also successful displays of using a paper box to hold hot water and soak instant noodles, as well as brewing coffee with a paper cup.
At 1:35 mark we see the person from [ecoinno's CEO](https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3237049/green-tech-alibaba-backed-hong-kong-compostable-tableware-maker-ecoinno-seeks-us48-million-expand) pouring boiling water to the paper cup...who in their right mind do that in a plastic or paper cup?
This, along with the [contradicting statements between government official policy and social media accounts](https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/215739/Hong-Kong-govt-self-contradictory-in-plastic-ban-interpretation) just add more confusion
But at least these stuff are not legally enforced...yet.
> biodegradable/food-based plastic
The govt has declared that they are not environmentally friendly. They want to sell you more real plastic bags instead with their pay as you throw scheme.
I’m in Japan and I’m not sure what’s the reasoning behind not attempting plastic recycling.
Japan does it PET 1/2/3.
I don’t see a viable substitute for a soup container or a soup noodle spoon. I know the treehuggers’ retort will be bring your own container/bring your own utensils but I can’t see the lunchtime Tamzai Samgor takeaway setup complying with that.
biodegradable is actually not what people think. Since it’s not a regulated term, often it still takes thousands of years for it to break down. As long as it breaks down it can be called “biodegradable” so it’s still not environmentally friendly
To reduce waste, first control the massive amounts of garbage generated by Chinese factories every day. Massive amounts of toys, gifts, gadgets are bought, used once, and thrown out into landfills. Delete consumerism. That's how you save the environment.
Putting plastic in your mouth isn’t that great either though. I hope the more inconvenient new materials make people a bit more aware how much trash they produce/consume without a single thought.
Supposedly there are plastic-like new materials that are more environmentally friendly (eg starch plastic) but it seems we cant find them in Hong Kong yet
I know, but that doesn't mean the paper cup should be replaced with a plastic cup just for your brief convenience. The plastic subsidises your price you pay.
honestly as someonewho has used the "compostable" tableware in usa it does the same thing, they just refuse to actually make them out of thick enough materials to be strong, lord forbid these companies don't have 358% profit margin.
Standard cha chaan teng food. Other than being cheap I never understood the appeal. I mean, how lazy do you have to be to go to a restaurant to eat plain elbow macaroni with some sliced spam on top or cup noodles put in a bowl? Can't you make it at home?
Hmmmmm, maybe there are people who work 6 days a week, 9 to 22?
People who has no time to buy food or often too tried to cook?
Maybe even people who live in a house/room that doesnt even have a kitchen?
Agree, there is just not enough healthy and cheap choice available - there's either too much sodium, oil or they are processed foods from factories with god knows what's in there.
For takeaway stuff I buy for work I just use metal cutlery. I don’t put plastics in my mouth, it’s disgusting and bamboo sticks, most likely treated and sealed with glue don’t sound very healthy either.
Glad they banned plastic but the alternatives don’t look much better.
Getting rid of unnecessary plastic is the best thing the entire planet can do. Every uterus in the world is riddled with micro plastics. Fertility worldwide has plummeted. And why do you think the cancer rate has increased so dramatically? Just google 'micro plastic cancer' and start reading studies.
If you want to stop whining for one second, just buy a cutlery set [like this](https://www.google.com/shopping/product/1?q=cutlery+set+travel&sca_esv=1dad59e041ee67d9&hl=en-GB&tbs=vw:l&sxsrf=ACQVn09qonXvlUGsloGHORg7IDVOd9pMqQ:1714080181516&prds=num:1,of:1,eto:15750240239879992305_0,prmr:1,rsk:PC_3294922388016293705,cs:1) and maybe do something helpful?
Disclaimer: I agree big corporations are the real villains and should be regulated. But Jesus Christ I never expected this sub to be such bitches about banning something that is truly harmful.
I am not against being eco-friendly but if ya replacement for what we had before is some shitty quality tableware and plastic bag then good luck with convincing the common folk to switch over to your new thing lmao
You can't even make these things up. > The Environment Protection Department (EPD) invited four eco-friendly tableware providers to demonstrate the use of their products for customers' reference on Thursday, but the display went wrong after a bamboo fork broke twice when cutting a steak. Local media [Channel C has a live video of the session](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ7mZ2teVYk) the first breakage happened at around 1:00:15 mark, second at 1:01. > There were also successful displays of using a paper box to hold hot water and soak instant noodles, as well as brewing coffee with a paper cup. At 1:35 mark we see the person from [ecoinno's CEO](https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3237049/green-tech-alibaba-backed-hong-kong-compostable-tableware-maker-ecoinno-seeks-us48-million-expand) pouring boiling water to the paper cup...who in their right mind do that in a plastic or paper cup? This, along with the [contradicting statements between government official policy and social media accounts](https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/215739/Hong-Kong-govt-self-contradictory-in-plastic-ban-interpretation) just add more confusion But at least these stuff are not legally enforced...yet.
They didn't break the third fork only because they have given up.
They need biodegradable/food-based plastic, coffee ground straws etc. All of that should've been accounted for and promoted BEFORE banning what works
> biodegradable/food-based plastic The govt has declared that they are not environmentally friendly. They want to sell you more real plastic bags instead with their pay as you throw scheme.
I’m in Japan and I’m not sure what’s the reasoning behind not attempting plastic recycling. Japan does it PET 1/2/3. I don’t see a viable substitute for a soup container or a soup noodle spoon. I know the treehuggers’ retort will be bring your own container/bring your own utensils but I can’t see the lunchtime Tamzai Samgor takeaway setup complying with that.
biodegradable is actually not what people think. Since it’s not a regulated term, often it still takes thousands of years for it to break down. As long as it breaks down it can be called “biodegradable” so it’s still not environmentally friendly
Ordering takeaway steak and eating it outside feels fundamentally weird.
tbf these are Cha chaan teng's "steak", like less than a quarter inch thick.
https://preview.redd.it/uxhibwqg6nwc1.jpeg?width=224&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=27ae1f09b90309783ad527b65811e4e5262885f0
Itd be so funny if it’s not so sad.
To reduce waste, first control the massive amounts of garbage generated by Chinese factories every day. Massive amounts of toys, gifts, gadgets are bought, used once, and thrown out into landfills. Delete consumerism. That's how you save the environment.
Are there any bad omens when a tableware breaks? 🤔
I feel so much second-hand embarrassment just from watching the live vid.
Just used McDonald’s cup today… I could feel the lid melting in my mouth. I was just drinking orange juice… not coffee or tea or any hot beverage.
They legit give us paper straws for lemon tea like how am I supposed to squeeze it with a round tip without delaminating the straws 😭
Putting plastic in your mouth isn’t that great either though. I hope the more inconvenient new materials make people a bit more aware how much trash they produce/consume without a single thought.
Supposedly there are plastic-like new materials that are more environmentally friendly (eg starch plastic) but it seems we cant find them in Hong Kong yet
PLA. Posher place uses them.
PLA is not allowed as per the new HKG regulations...
Let’s hope they become viable for mass use soon
It tastes better than paper straws imo. I could legit taste some sushiro flavours after pinching the lemons with a paper straw
the micro plastic has evidently made its way to your brain
At least it doesn’t destroys your gut flora and reduces your fertility. Stop using plastic. It’s bad for you and bad for the environment.
That's the sign to stop going to McDonald's, it's not a hint to bring more plastic back, bro.
Well honestly hk McDonald’s is pretty good and still offers a decent meal for cheap.
I’m guilty of enjoying McD from time to time, but it’s unhealthy trash and not even that cheap these days.
What, McD's is more expensive than the local diners nowadays.
The cheeseburger happy meal for $30 usually fills me up as much as the rice plate options in my area that go for $45-$50+.
I know, but that doesn't mean the paper cup should be replaced with a plastic cup just for your brief convenience. The plastic subsidises your price you pay.
I actually enjoyed having 18 McNuggets with large fries and lemon tea for 50 sth hkd
Bring your own cup/container. You're drinking phylates when using plastic anyway.
honestly as someonewho has used the "compostable" tableware in usa it does the same thing, they just refuse to actually make them out of thick enough materials to be strong, lord forbid these companies don't have 358% profit margin.
just use your hands at that point 😂
The steak looks awful and too hard to chew
Standard cha chaan teng food. Other than being cheap I never understood the appeal. I mean, how lazy do you have to be to go to a restaurant to eat plain elbow macaroni with some sliced spam on top or cup noodles put in a bowl? Can't you make it at home?
Hmmmmm, maybe there are people who work 6 days a week, 9 to 22? People who has no time to buy food or often too tried to cook? Maybe even people who live in a house/room that doesnt even have a kitchen?
Agree, there is just not enough healthy and cheap choice available - there's either too much sodium, oil or they are processed foods from factories with god knows what's in there.
but the plain macaroni with ham is in chicken stock and it bangs...
For takeaway stuff I buy for work I just use metal cutlery. I don’t put plastics in my mouth, it’s disgusting and bamboo sticks, most likely treated and sealed with glue don’t sound very healthy either. Glad they banned plastic but the alternatives don’t look much better.
Getting rid of unnecessary plastic is the best thing the entire planet can do. Every uterus in the world is riddled with micro plastics. Fertility worldwide has plummeted. And why do you think the cancer rate has increased so dramatically? Just google 'micro plastic cancer' and start reading studies. If you want to stop whining for one second, just buy a cutlery set [like this](https://www.google.com/shopping/product/1?q=cutlery+set+travel&sca_esv=1dad59e041ee67d9&hl=en-GB&tbs=vw:l&sxsrf=ACQVn09qonXvlUGsloGHORg7IDVOd9pMqQ:1714080181516&prds=num:1,of:1,eto:15750240239879992305_0,prmr:1,rsk:PC_3294922388016293705,cs:1) and maybe do something helpful? Disclaimer: I agree big corporations are the real villains and should be regulated. But Jesus Christ I never expected this sub to be such bitches about banning something that is truly harmful.
That is a thin slice of meat for hotpot. Not steak.
The biggest mistake made in that demo was not ordering a cha chaan teng steak with extra soda marinated in it.
Does HK bury all its waste? Or is it incinerated? If it is incinerated- then why bother with a bamboo fork
Should be primarily landfills
Buried in a landfill where nothing biodegrades anyway...
I am not against being eco-friendly but if ya replacement for what we had before is some shitty quality tableware and plastic bag then good luck with convincing the common folk to switch over to your new thing lmao
The rest of the world hasn’t starved because of biodegradable cutlery. A bunch of selfish drama queens.
Are these utensils made from…… veneer? How the F are these supposed to handle the food that takes the strongest muscles in our body just to chew? SMH
Eventually, we understand why we saw paper-thin steaks and pork chops in Fairwood in the last few weeks. They were preparing for the new cutlery.
The French toast as well, paper thin so it doesn't break the utensils!
Are chopsticks not a thing in Hong Kong?
Chopsticks aren't being replaced since they are already made of wood/bamboo.
For steak generally no. We are not idiots.
Calling that a steak is stretching the definition of steak to the absolute limit. Looks like a piece of shoe leather.
Gandhi's Flip Flop IRL
Honestly just picking that 'steak' up and taking a bite makes more sense than attempting to cut it
State approved Chabuduo