Raw Cotton in Office Chairs

In office chairs, 'raw cotton' generally refers to whole sponge or fiber materials that are newly produced and not recycled for a second time. However, 'stitched raw cotton' is a term coined by merchants, which is essentially recycled sponge, leading to confusion and misleading consumers.

Conventional Definition of 'Raw Cotton'

In the office chair industry, 'raw cotton' typically refers to whole sponge or fiber materials that are newly produced and have not undergone secondary recycling processing. These materials offer good elasticity and support, providing users with a comfortable sitting experience. They also tend to be more environmentally friendly and hygienic, meeting consumers' expectations for high-quality office chair fillings.

The Essence of the Controversy Over 'Stitched Raw Cotton'

In March 2026, a controversy arose over the promotion of 'stitched raw cotton' by a well-known ergonomic office chair merchant. The merchant claimed that 'stitched raw cotton' was a normal process, involving the stitching together of small pieces of raw cotton, and presented test reports stating compliance with national standards. However, 'stitched raw cotton' is not a standardized term in national regulations; its essence belongs to a type of recycled sponge. Recycled sponge is usually produced by secondary processing of scraps or industrial offcuts, fundamentally different from what consumers understand as 'whole, newly produced raw cotton.' By using this self-coined term, merchants have blurred material standards and confused consumers' understanding of product fillings.

Issues Exposed by the Incident

After dismantling the chairs, consumers found that the fillings were colorful pieces of shredded sponge and even debris, raising suspicions that the merchants were using 'substandard cotton' to pass off inferior products as high-quality ones. Although the merchants argued that color variations and stitching processes were normal, they admitted that the product pages did not clearly indicate that the fillings were 'stitched cotton,' which could lead to misunderstandings during purchase. While market regulatory authorities have yet to issue a final conclusion, this incident fully exposes the problem of some merchants pursuing profits at the expense of consumers' right to information, using self-coined terms to blur material standards. When purchasing office chairs, consumers should carefully understand product information to avoid being misled by vague merchant promotions.