Mar 10 (NHK) - Major Japanese convenience-store chain FamilyMart is going to stop providing plastic forks to customers who purchase food items. It's part of a nationwide effort to cut down on waste.
FamilyMart said on Wednesday it will no longer hand out plastic forks or so-called sporks... spoons with fork-like tines at the tip. Instead, its outlets will offer bamboo chopsticks.
The convenience-store operator will try out the measure at 10 stores in Tokyo starting Thursday. It will check customer reaction and analyze the impact on sales, before introducing the measure across the country.
The decision comes ahead of a new law taking effect next month that will require businesses in Japan to cut the amount of plastic they use.
Source: ANNnewsCH