Everton footballer Tom Davies behind the chopstick recycling initiative at new YO! Sushi site in Speke

YO! Sushi opens its doors for the first time today, December 5, and Everton Midfielder Tom Davies is supporting the launch as the director of ChopValue UK.

Joining forces with ChopValue UK to launch their new Merseyside restaurant YO! are looking to save millions of chopsticks from landfill and repurpose them into incredible new products. 

Did you know that approximately 1.5 billion chopsticks end up in landfill each year? So YO! are looking at ways to reduce this waste and instead find a new use for their bamboo chopsticks.

Every pair of chopsticks used at the new restaurant in Speke will be up-cycled into beautiful new products for homes, offices and businesses, such as coasters, desks, shelves, and more.

This “first of its kind” partnership is initially being trialled in Liverpool, where ChopValue UK has its first micro-factory, with plans to take the initiative nationwide should it prove successful.

To celebrate opening another store in Liverpool YO! are serving up ’Scouse Sushi’ –  a new Liverpool-inspired dish will be available on launch week as part of a giveaway. The ‘half and half’ sushi roll is coated in Panko crumb and fried until golden, cut in half and topped with YO! fries, drizzled with curry sauce and sprinkled with chives. The recipe celebrates the Liverpool chippy tradition of ordering curry, half rice, and half chips. 

Tom Davies, said: “It’s our mission to leave no chopstick behind and this partnership with YO! is a massive opportunity to save tonnes of chopsticks going into landfill and instead giving them a new life. 

“It’s important that we all take steps to protect the future of this planet and I feel we all have a role to play in that. I’m looking to use my profile and platform as a footballer to help spark people into thinking about how they can make a difference.”

He added: “The truth is that many chopsticks go to waste unnecessarily, if I can help to stop that then I’m happy to do so. With YO! coming on board with ChopValue we hope we can save millions of chopsticks and give them a second life.” 

The new YO! can be found at the New Mersey Retail Park in Speke and opens from 5 December 2022.

For more information on the partnership between YO! and Chop Value click here.