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Thousands of chopsticks have been collected across Boston, all in use to create home decor and office furniture at the microfactory. 

ChopValue, a young company that transforms chopsticks into sustainable home decor, is opening the doors of its new factory in Charlestown on Oct. 25.

“Boston has a renewed focus on sustainability, we are thrilled to be a part of that,” said ChopValue Boston owner Elaine Chow in a press release.

The intent to open the Charlestown Microfactory was announced in February, according to ChopValue’s website, with the initial plan to open their first East Coast franchise in June. The company started in Vancouver in 2020 and was founded by Felix Böck, who approached the concept of reducing wood and construction waste by presenting his concept for micro factories across several countries with 38 locations in development.

ChopValue products include tables, wall paneling, cabinets, footrests, phone holders and more. 

So far, the ChopValue Boston team has collected more than 15,000 pounds of chopsticks from restaurants across Boston, the press release read.

“ChopValue is truly an exercise in community. We are recycling chopsticks from local restaurants, employing people in our Charlestown factory, and selling products to local companies and consumers – delivered as sustainably as possible,” Chow said. “Our process is not only a more eco-friendly way to create furnishings but also an incredible way to leverage the resources we already have here in Boston.”

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ChopValue Boston will collect chopsticks from over 100 participating restaurants in the Greater Boston area and are then taken to their micro factory for manufacturing before being delivered to customers, according to the press release.