ARTICLES
SUBLIME MAGAZINE
13th July 2023
WHAT’RE YOU PLAYING WITH?
Written by
Sarah Wild
Published in
IT’S TIME TO SHIFT ANIMAL-BASED SPORTS EQUIPMENT TO MORE SUSTAINABLE ONES. DO WE NEED MORE GRAVEYARDS OF WASTE AND MORE ANIMAL EXPLOITATION? SARAH WILD EMBARKED ON AN IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION OF THE PRODUCTION MATERIALS INTRICATELY LINKED TO THE WORLD OF SPORTS.
Sport equipments get beaten up, smashed around, and often must be thrown away because they can’t be fixed. But in the current way of thinking, sport businesses are not concerned about the post effect these equipments have on the environment once they are thrown in the trash. These practices not only contribute to expanding landfills but also perpetuates human and animal exploitation.
Can we achieve sustainability with these equipments? Are we the Most Valuable Players, MPVs, who make responsible decisions by adopting sustainable practices when playing sport that leads our future to mighty triumph in sustainability?
This article delves into the truth on three sport industries that stems from feathers to leathers, these materials reveal a shocking reality that parallels the outcry caused by the similarly devastating impact of plastic on marine life. Startling reports showed that 95% of marine creatures now ingest debris, with plastic and waste found in the stomachs of aquatic organisms, leading our Nemo’s belly up!
IMAGE NOT ACCEPTED IN THE MEDIA - MADE BY SARAH WILD Feather Shuttlecocks
Graceful feathers that dance through the air, propelled by the swift movements of badminton legends, have a duck secret: they come at a tremendous cost to our planet and its inhabitants. It is hard to believe that this second most played racquet sport supported by 220 million people are unaware that the feathers they see flying at high speeds are not ‘fake’ feathers.
Furthermore, this unscrupulous industry violates UK laws involving child labor and poor working conditions, posing risks like zoonotic disease outbreaks which not only threaten the birds but also potentially harm the very players who idolise them.
Millions of our symbolic birds suffer repeated live plucking, lacking acknowledgement from consumers to produce billions of feather shuttlecocks worldwide, birds’ feathers are made of keratin that grow back seasonally. Under stressful conditions and intense demand, these birds are subjected to a short life of slavery. If this isn’t enough the problem extends beyond animal cruelty.
Research has shed light on the wasteful nature of feather shuttlecocks, echoing the throwaway culture that plagues our planet with single-use plastics.
Astonishingly, a staggering 97% of feather shuttlecocks are discarded after a single use! which can be a result from a single hit, leaving behind a trail of waste and environmental degradation. From the moment these fragile creatures are born to their eventual decomposition, the built-up damage inflicted upon our ecosystems are hidden and undocumented.
Just as we rejected fur coats and fought against exploitative sweatshop labor, we must rethink our approach to feather shuttlecocks.
Badminton World Federation (BWF) Director Thomas Lund, flickered as a beacon of hope, advocating for synthetic feather shuttlecocks as a more viable and sustainable alternative.
This paradigm shift is supported by Duck off project (DOP) a non-profit awareness campaign, whose motto is “Education empowers and success comes from understanding followed by action.” They are working well on spreading the awareness alongside COP 26 for the shift to eco & vegan friendly shuttlecocks for a more economical alternative.
However BWF have questionably continued to prolong the transition. DOP say:
With poor transparency and no progression made from BWF, we hope to aid the transition to synthetics, and we urge the UK to end using feather shuttles by 2024.
DOP have started a GOV petition to ban the import and sale of feathers in the UK aligning with UK laws, their website explains more in greater detail.
Will the pros stay ahead of the game?
But there are medals to still be won, with the tech minds we have today let’s not get confused here! Plastic shuttles readily available are better over the feather shuttles, Synthetic shuttlecocks hold the promise of reducing the environmental impact caused by their natural feather counterparts. Their durability and innovative manufacturing process make them a reliable choice for players, even vegans can begin to partake.
By embracing this change, we can alleviate the suffering of birds (Evidence shows that 48 ducks are harmed to make 1 tube of 12 feather shuttles, amateur players use 2-3 tubes in 1 session, that equals to 144 birds being harmed).
Furthermore, the change can protect workers’ rights, create player inclusivity, and curb the insidious waste that plagues our world by ending the use of single-use feather shuttles! It’s a WIN WIN!
IMAGE NOT USED IN ARTICLE - MADE BY SARAH WILD Football Boots / Cleats
Jumping onto the pitch, the biggest star in the global game has ditched Cleats after learning of the gruesome process of Kangaroo culling. Beckham, switching to models made from synthetic fabrics, came after he was sent videos on baby kangaroos being pulled from their mothers pockets and beaten to death to coat the very cleats he had been blindly advertising.
These iconic animals are the coats of Australians, kangaroos have become convenient scapegoats, blamed for damaging the land. Supporters pro-culling, argue its necessity in controlling kangaroo populations, while activists vehemently oppose it, condemning it as a brutal act driven by commercial interest.
However, it is the overgrazing by the introduced multi-billion dollar livestock industry sheep and cattle, along with the persistent use of high-density pastures, that causes significant land degradation, posing a threat to native species like kangaroos, whom are being poisoned and displaced due to unsustainable farming practices, they are often overlooked in the crucial roles that different kangaroo species play in Australia’s delicate ecosystem.
Companies like Nike and Puma have recognised this issue, publicly stating their transition away from k-leather (A term given to hide the name ‘kangaroo’ that may threaten their sales) in 2023 in favour of eco-friendly alternatives that are made of 20% recycled materials. However, some brands like Sokito, still advocate using kangaroo skin as a ‘by product’ perpetuating the falsehood of its sustainability for the sake of profit. Some just find it hard to let go.
Nevertheless, with the innovative advancements available today, athletes can play their way into reducing the environmental impact by embracing materials such as 100% polyester jerseys made from recycled plastic. Adopting to more sustainable materials like bamboo or recycled plastics, will protect precious wildlife and take steps to a greener future.
So, let’s kick off the outdated comments like “luxury k-leather for unrivalled comfort & durability” Bring in a fresh perspective. ‘K-BETTER. Completely new, not of animal origin, outperforming the previous k-leather in testing for touch, comfort, & durability.’
IMAGE NOT USED IN ARTICLE - MADE BY SARAH WILD Cricket Balls
These red cherry’s hold a legacy the same as Lyudmila Pavlichenko who laughed in the face of death, who’s fans the same echoed applause for the scores, similarly, supporting live skinning cows for sport is a barbaric practice and also contributes to the environmental crisis. Transforming raw cow hide into usable leather involves, toxic chemicals that pollutes waterways and harms ecosystems.
Additionally, the risk of disease transmission during skinning raises further concerns due to the unregulated illegal slaughterhouses that murder 890,000 cattle every single day in India alone. Just like the snipper ‘Lady of death’ there comes a time when this brutal behaviour must be stopped.
In the bustling lives of Indian Hindus, mostly vegetarians, believe that slaughtering cows is declared illegal, punishable by up to 3 years in jail. Yet, the hypocrisy of profit-seeking individuals who illegally live skin these sacred animals to meet the Western demand for leather remains a troubling reality.
It is true that these balls are made to last, so can you imagine the buildup of 180,000 dozen per year filling up our oceans? With so many viable alternatives available, it’s shocking that this tradition still persists.
Let us not forget the power of our voices and the impact it can have. We have learned to read, comprehend, and empathise. Now, is the time to utilise these skills for a greater purpose.
By raising awareness, rising for change, and supporting sustainable alternatives, we can ensure that our love for competitive sports align with our values of compassion and environmental stewardship.
Giving our children a fairer future! Without the labels of truth, we will continue to have the ostrich effect. So, let’s label up and show the world we have team spirit!
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