"Not for Exercise?"... China Uses 'Padding Filling' as Shuttlecock

Controversy Over 'Fake Padding' Recycled from Shuttlecocks in China
"Chicken Feathers and Pig Hair Also Crushed and Used"
"'Fake Down Jackets' May Cause Allergies"

Controversy has arisen in China following revelations about "fake down jackets" made by recycling badminton shuttlecocks.

On the 17th, Chinese local media Dahebao reported that down jacket manufacturers were caught purchasing large quantities of used shuttlecocks for filling material. These companies were found to separate only the feather parts from the shuttlecocks, then grind them into fibers called Bisa (飛絲), which were used as filling material.

Recycled shuttlecocks for down jacket filling. Chinese local media 'Dahebao'

This is not the first time "shuttlecock down jackets" have sparked controversy. Earlier, at the end of last month, China Central Television (CCTV) exposed that ultra-low-priced down jackets used Bisa as filling material, triggering public outcry. Chinese local media launched in-depth investigations to trace the source of the Bisa and discovered that the secret within the industry was the "shuttlecock." It was revealed that cleaning staff at badminton courts nationwide, related industry workers, and badminton enthusiasts collected used shuttlecocks and sold them to these manufacturers for cash. A company representative stated, "The fibers made by grinding shuttlecock feathers are thin and durable," adding, "They have good resilience when used as padding filling or pillow stuffing."

This phenomenon appears to be linked to the recent annual price increase of more than 1.5 times for duck and goose feathers. Some manufacturers, burdened by the cost of duck and goose feather filling materials, have resorted to recycling shuttlecocks. Another industry insider confessed, "Recycling shuttlecocks has been happening for several years and is actually on the more conscientious side." The source added, "I have even seen chicken and pig hair being ground and used, undergoing additional bleaching processes."

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Pixabay.

Fake down jackets are disguised as filled with duck or goose feathers and are distributed at low prices on e-commerce platforms. Although the "shuttlecock jackets" may appear environmentally friendly at first glance, experts point out that they show significant differences from genuine down jackets in terms of warmth and lightness. Additionally, dust generated during the manufacturing process adheres to the fibers and can cause allergies. Experts also warn that caution is needed when purchasing ultra-low-priced children's down jackets online.

Furthermore, recently, a children's clothing company in a garment complex in Zhangzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China, caused controversy by marketing "duck feather padding" while selling fake duck feather padding. The company used scraps of feathers produced during manufacturing instead of real duck feathers. In other words, they were caught using waste as filling material. The certificates claiming that the filling material passed inspection standards were all fake. Ultimately, authorities arrested three executives of the company that produced the fake duck feather padding and confiscated 70,000 fake padded jackets worth approximately 7 million yuan (about 1.39 billion KRW).

Meanwhile, in China, as goose and duck farms have shifted to pig farming, the feathers used to make shuttlecocks have become scarce, causing shuttlecock prices to surge by more than 20% in July.