# Canoe Made of 7,382 Chopsticks By Alex Covert | Published 2008-04-07 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/canoe-made-from-disposable-chopsticks References: [pinktentacle](http://www.pinktentacle.com/2008/04/canoe-made-from-disposable-chopsticks/) Shuhei Ogawara, a city-hall employee, has made a 13-foot canoe from thousands of [disposable chopsticks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nytt-lys) that he collected from the city hall cafeteria. He was disturbed that perfectly good wood was being thrown away - so, he spent two years constructing this 66 pound boat out of 7,382 chopsticks. A launching ceremony is planned for May at nearby Lake Inawashiro. **Implications** - The rise of environmentalism has caused consumers all over the world to take a closer look at the waste we produce in today's throwaway culture. By creating [functional sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/objects-from-frames) from [recycled and reclaimed materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/noah-folding-stool), artists can make a social statement and save items from clogging up local landfills. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 5% | Activity: 36% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Recycled Material Art:** The use of recycled and reclaimed materials in art can make a social statement and reduce waste in a throwaway culture. - **Sustainable Materials:** The rise of environmentalism demands the use of sustainable materials to decrease waste and promote a greener future. - **Upcycling:** Upcycling waste materials into functional and useful products is a creative way to reduce waste and bring new life to discarded materials. ### Where This Applies - **Art and Design:** Artists and designers can disrupt conventional art and design processes by incorporating sustainable and recycled materials in their work and promoting a greener future. - **Waste Management:** The need to reduce waste demands innovation in waste management practices, such as upcycling and finding new uses for discarded materials. - **Consumer Goods:** Incorporating recycled and sustainable materials in the production of consumer goods can appeal to environmentally conscious consumers and disrupt traditional manufacturing processes. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Fishing Container Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/common-neglect-material.md) - [Sophisticated Upcycled Home Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/basket-sculptures.md) - [Ceramic Waste Carafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sungai-carafe.md) - [Compostable Sauce Containers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holy-carp-packaging.md) - [Discarded Shoe-Created Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wu-series.md) - [Culture-Honoring Spiralled Chopsticks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rassen-chopstick.md) - [Asian Watercraft-Inspired Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sampan.md) - [Rice Husk-Made Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rice-husk-stool.md) - [Sustainable Wooden Cutlery](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/compostable-wooden-cutlery.md)