ChopValue, the leading manufacturer of sustainable products utilizing the circular economy model, is excited to announce their latest franchise in the vibrant city of Las Vegas. With Microfactories already in Canada and Asia, this addition will be their first of many in the U.S., as ChopValue works to create a micro-manufacturing network that will help build back better with a socially-responsible approach.
Las Vegas native, Brooks Smith, will be spearheading the ChopValue Microfactory to help the city rethink how it looks at recycled products and sustainable living. Along with the support from his family who have two decades in the restaurant business opening 12 McDonalds in the Las Vegas region, the Smith’s have a proven track record and are excited to bring this innovative concept to life in their community.
The Las Vegas Valley is a world-class entertainment and food destination hub that has been growing its focus on social impact and sustainability. With a population of 2.3 million people and over 40 million visitors annually from all corners of the world pre-pandemic, there is immense potential to urban harvest for a greener future. ChopValue Las Vegas will lead by example and demonstrate with their circular economy that will collect from hundreds of local Asian restaurants.
“Growing up in Las Vegas, we gave many their first jobs and watched them grow,” said Brooks Smith, President of ChopValue Las Vegas. “This has spanned through generations, and I’m now starting to see those same people’s kids beginning to work for us. I see an emerging trend of new, young talent in trades who want to make a positive difference, and I want to be able to do more for them. Being in the restaurant industry for so long, I plan to change my narrative and try to better my community in other ways. Instead of waiting for someone to make sustainable changes in Las Vegas, I will lead the embrace of the circular economy in my hometown.”
ChopValue was founded in 2016 by Felix Böck, who holds a Wood Technology & Industrial Engineering degree from Germany. He was pursuing a PhD in structural bamboo composites in Vancouver, BC, when he was inspired by the vast amount of under-utilized wood resources from demolished construction sites. Böck tried to implement a regional program to tackle urban wood waste, but didn’t gain enough interest, so he established ChopValue to show how a relatable material like chopsticks can become a feasible business opportunity through resource efficiency.
Since then, the company has given over 35 million chopsticks a second life, diverting them from landfills to lead by example with a viable circular economy. After the chopsticks are collected from hundreds of restaurant partners, they are sorted in local Microfactories where the production process begins and the innovative material is transformed into sustainable products and custom solutions.
“Although the city is known for excess, the mega-casinos have been making more environmentally conscious choices in recent years. I’m excited we can help businesses address the urgency of climate change in a way that provides significant value in job opportunities and the creation of a new resource,” said Felix Böck, Founder and CEO of ChopValue. “We’ve felt an overwhelming amount of support from Americans who shop with us online and with this new key location run by Smith’s team, we’re one step closer to being as local as possible to our customers and minimize our carbon footprint.”
From huge solar arrays to implementing food waste solutions, Las Vegas’ commitment in bringing more sustainable initiatives is paving the way for a successful circular economy Microfactory. ChopValue Las Vegas is slated to open later this year, and Smith has already received an incredibly positive response with his initial outreach for restaurant collection partners as well as companies and real estate developers interested in the brand’s innovative sustainable material for custom projects.
About ChopValue
ChopValue is the world’s first circular economy franchise that designs and manufactures products using an innovative, high-performance material made entirely from recycled chopsticks. Since its founding in 2016, ChopValue’s “urban harvesting” approach has saved over 35 million chopsticks from the landfill, turning them into beautiful and sustainable products for the home and office. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the company operates a global network of corporate and franchise Microfactories that source, manufacture, distribute, and employ within local communities. ChopValue is a certified B Corporation with a simple vision of building a carbon-neutral future, one chopstick at a time.”
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