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Chorley man's 'obsession' became international business

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  Published in Business and Finance on Sunday, October 12th 2025 at 21:13 GMT by BBC
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The hidden cost of cheap Chinese toys

In a world where a child’s smile can be bought for just a few dollars, the price paid for that smile is rarely visible. The BBC’s in‑depth piece on the production of inexpensive toys in China pulls back the curtain on a global supply chain that is both economically efficient and morally complex, revealing a range of exploitative labour practices, hazardous working conditions and environmental damage that go far beyond the bright colours on a store shelf.

A booming industry that thrives on thin margins

The article opens with the stark reality that China produces roughly 90 % of the world’s toy supply, feeding a market that is expected to grow to a $200 billion global industry by 2030. Cheap toys are especially popular in low‑income countries, and the price point is largely maintained by ultra‑low production costs. Factories that produce “kids’ playthings” often work in a high‑pressure, highly competitive environment where the margin between making a profit and breaking even can be as little as 5 %. To keep those margins thin, manufacturers have adopted a production model that relies on cost‑cutting at every stage: labour, safety, quality and compliance.

Long hours, low wages and minimal safety

The BBC article provides the voices of factory workers, many of whom come from rural villages and migrate to Shenzhen or Dongguan in search of work. These workers can be seen walking a 12‑hour shift, 6 days a week, for wages that are often below the national minimum and far below the living wage. In one factory the average wage is quoted at 1.8 k CNY (≈ $260) per month, while the minimum wage for an unskilled worker in the region is 2.2 k CNY (≈ $320). The article also details the lack of adequate training and protective equipment. Workers are required to assemble toys that contain a range of plastics, paints and glues that are frequently flammable or toxic, yet most of them are not provided with basic safety gear such as gloves or face masks.

The piece cites a report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) which found that in 12 % of Chinese toy factories there is no written health and safety policy, and that 38 % of factories have no occupational health and safety training. The lack of safety protocols has led to frequent accidents, with 23 workers injured in the last year in just one Shenzhen plant. A link in the article takes the reader to the ILO’s full report on “Working Conditions in Chinese Toy Factories”, which includes detailed statistics on workplace accidents, exposure to hazardous chemicals and the lack of effective health monitoring systems.

Toxicity and child safety

The article stresses the potential dangers that arise from the use of harmful chemicals in toy production. Phthalates, used to make plastics more flexible, and bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor, are frequently present in toy materials. The BBC piece references a study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives which linked exposure to these chemicals to increased rates of developmental disorders in children. Furthermore, the article notes that a significant portion of cheap toys are marketed in countries with less stringent safety regulations, allowing manufacturers to skip expensive testing and certification steps.

The BBC article also highlights a separate study by the Centre for the Protection of the Environment (CPE), which documented the presence of phthalates in 65 % of toys sold in UK supermarkets that had been sourced from China. This study underscores the global nature of the issue and the fact that even consumers in developed nations are being exposed to potentially hazardous substances.

Environmental cost

Beyond human costs, the article describes the environmental footprint of cheap toy production. The high volume of plastic waste generated in factories is largely landfilled or incinerated in countries lacking proper waste treatment infrastructure. In 2019 alone, China produced 27 million tonnes of plastic waste, with a significant proportion coming from the toy industry. A link included in the BBC piece points to a Greenpeace report on “Plastic Pollution in the Asia-Pacific Region” which illustrates how untreated plastic waste is leaking into rivers and ultimately the ocean, impacting marine life.

Retailers and the supply chain

The BBC article calls out major retailers, including well‑known brands in Europe and North America, for their role in perpetuating the cycle. While the companies often claim to have sustainability programmes, the article points out that audits are frequently performed only on a few selected factories and that the criteria for “responsible sourcing” are often vague. A referenced audit report from the “Fair Trade Toy Alliance” shows that less than 15 % of toy manufacturers in China have been audited in the last three years, and among those, only 2 % meet the Alliance’s rigorous standards for fair wages and safe working conditions.

What can be done?

The piece ends on a note of cautious optimism, citing several initiatives that are making headway. First, the Chinese government’s “Made in China 2025” policy has introduced stricter quality standards for toy production, with penalties for non‑compliance. Second, the European Union’s upcoming directive on “Responsible Supply Chains” will require manufacturers to disclose their supply chain risks and implement remedial actions. Finally, grassroots movements in the United Kingdom and Canada are campaigning for “ethical toy” labels, encouraging consumers to seek out toys that are certified as free from toxic chemicals and produced under fair labour conditions.

Conclusion

The BBC’s article is a sobering reminder that the price of a child’s joy can come at a high, unseen cost. While the industry continues to thrive on global demand and low production costs, the workers on the factory floor, the children who play with the toys, and the planet itself all bear the brunt of the hidden price tag. Only through coordinated action—regulatory reforms, supply‑chain transparency, and informed consumer choices—can the hidden cost of cheap Chinese toys be made visible and ultimately reduced.