A factory in Liangshan County, Jining City, has been exposed for recycling used sanitary pads and baby nappies into “refurbished” products and selling them at a significant markup, according to CCTV reports. The factory, operated by Liangshan Xixi Paper Products Co., was shut down after authorities uncovered the full scale of its operations. The factory’s products, originally priced between RMB 260 and RMB 1,400 per tonne, were being resold for as high as RMB 7,000 to RMB 8,000 per tonne. The factory’s manager has been detained.
Undercover CCTV reporters, posing as buyers, met with the factory’s manager, Liu, who confirmed that the company focused on recycling waste materials. The factory purchased discarded or defective sanitary pads and nappies from manufacturers. During the investigation, employees dismissed concerns about hygiene, with one worker remarking, “It’s dirty, but it doesn’t matter.” The revelations have sparked public outrage in mainland China.
Inside the factory, workers were seen repackaging nappies and fluffing them to restore their original appearance. Among the recycled products were recognizable brands, including “Maikuku” baby pull-up pants and “Freedom” sanitary pads. These defective items, originally intended for disposal, were sorted into “Grade B” goods and resold for large profits.
Liu explained that the success of his business was due to connections within corporate supply chains, claiming, “Almost every listed company in the domestic market is linked to us.” He added that buyers included resellers of well-known brands such as Makuku, EMXEE, Babycare, Miffy, and Sofy.
The factory also had a secondary revenue stream, processing unsalvageable waste. Discarded sanitary products were shredded into raw materials like wood pulp and superabsorbent polymers, which were then resold to manufacturers of disposable hygiene products.
This discovery has sparked widespread outrage, with many demanding accountability from companies that allowed their waste to be sold in these “black market” operations. Some netizens expressed horror at the idea of refurbished sanitary products being resold, calling it a blatant disregard for public health and safety.
Following the closure of the factory, its manager is under investigation. The incident has raised concerns about consumer safety in China and highlighted potential flaws in the manufacturing and disposal processes for hygiene products.
Related Topics:
