My Initiative

Sustainability Meets Sport and Creativity: An Initiative for Badminton and Upcycling Enthusiasts 

While badminton is highly popular in Asia and is regarded as a favorite sport in the region, many may be surprised to learn that online sources have ranked it as the world's second-most popular sport, boasting over 220 million regular players worldwide. Although I'm unsure of how this ranking was determined, one thing is certain: badminton is undoubtedly the most popular participation sport here in Malaysia. In fact, according to a report by Statista, badminton accounts for 12.19% of all participation sports in Malaysia, making it the most popular sport by a significant margin. [1]

Unfortunately, with the widespread popularity of badminton comes an unintended byproduct: waste. Used shuttlecocks are a major contributor to this waste, as they have a relatively short lifespan on courts. Nevertheless, the exact lifespan of a shuttlecock can vary depending on factors such as whether you are a professional or beginner player and your style of play, which may be aggressive or defensive. Even slight damage to the shuttlecock can render it unfit for play. As a result, it's not uncommon to see the courts littered with dozens of used shuttlecocks after just one session of badminton.

 

In the long run, the accumulation of waste poses a risk to the conservation of resources and the principles of sustainability, while also bringing into focus the sustainability and efficiency of landfills. But until someone can come up with a better alternative to making shuttlecocks, we ought to be mindful of our consumption habits and do our part in reducing waste. I believe that by making small changes in our daily lives, we can collectively work towards a more sustainable future and minimize the impact of waste accumulation on our environment and landfills.

Hence, as someone who's passionate about being “green,” I've started this initiative to encourage people to embrace physical activity and upcycling while also reducing waste and conserving resources by repurposing discarded shuttlecocks and shuttlecock tubes. 

The motto of my initiative is "Zerowaste Badminton." I believe that staying active through sports like badminton can help people lead healthier and happier lives, while being creative through upcycling can have a positive impact on the environment and our communities.

My initiative has two main goals. Firstly, I want to inspire people to get creative and repurpose discarded shuttlecocks and shuttlecock tubes into useful and beautiful items, such as Shoootle board, Go and Chess set, and many more. Secondly, I hope to reduce waste and conserve resources by diverting these materials from landfills and giving them a new life.

Through this initiative, I hope to create a positive impact on individuals, communities, and the environment. By promoting physical activity and creativity while also reducing waste and conserving resources, I believe we can improve people's physical and mental wellbeing while also protecting the planet for future generations.

My passions for badminton, upcycling, and sustainability are what drive me to embark on this initiative and share my love for these pursuits with others. If you're interested in joining me on this journey, please reach out and let's get started on staying active, being creative, and sustainable together! 

PS: Upcycling has always been a passion of mine, and I find great joy in transforming discarded materials into something new and useful. In fact, one of my upcycling creations was even featured in the newspaper a few years ago, which was a wonderful affirmation of my work. Furthermore, I am proud to mention that my upcycling creation, the Tetra Pak Lamp, not only received recognition in the local newspaper but also emerged as the winner of an international competition, the Bright Ideas Lighting Design Competition. You can find more details about the award-winning creation and its features at this link: Winner of the Bright Ideas Lighting Design Competition. It's exciting to see the growing interest in upcycling and sustainability, and I hope to inspire others to join me in making a positive impact on the environment through creative reuse. 

Footnote:
[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/562710/malaysia-kinds-of-sports-regularly-participated-in/