Steel chopsticks can save many trees. Why do we seldom use them?

First of all, steel chopsticks can't save many trees because most chopsticks are made of bamboo, not wood. Although many people misunderstand that chopsticks are made of wood, many chopsticks are actually made of bamboo. Although there are wooden chopsticks, the quantity is small, and replacing wood with steel can't save wood. Furthermore, bamboo is not only a renewable plant, but also has a very fast reproductive ability and growth rate, so its economic value is very suitable.

The second reason is that steel chopsticks are too heavy for many people to adapt. Generally, the density of steel is 7.85 grams per cubic centimeter, while the density of bamboo is mostly around 0.5 grams per cubic centimeter. In other words, the weight of steel chopsticks is about 15 times that of bamboo chopsticks of the same size! The original lightweight bamboo chopsticks have gained too much weight after being replaced by steel chopsticks, and few people can adapt to such heavy chopsticks.

The third reason is that steel chopsticks are too smooth, so it is inconvenient to hold a lot of smooth and soft food with steel chopsticks. Bamboo chopsticks are not only light, but also have great friction, so it is convenient to pick up all kinds of food. Steel chopsticks are not only heavy, but also smooth after processing. It is inconvenient to take tofu, vermicelli, quail eggs and other foods with steel chopsticks, and many jokes may be made when eating.

The fourth reason is that bamboo has an average thermal conductivity, and it will not transfer the heat of food to our mouths, while steel chopsticks will. Because steel has good thermal conductivity, it is very suitable to use steel as a pot, but if chopsticks are made of steel, steel will also absorb the heat of food to itself and then transfer it to the user's mouth. In this case, people's lips or tongues may be burned, and steel chopsticks are rarely used.