Clothes sold by fast-fashion giant SHEIN contain ‘hazardous chemicals’ breaching EU regulations, environmental campaigners have claimed.
Shein The largest international online retailer, selling between 35,000- 100,000 new clothes every day.
These are however very affordable Clothes Greenpeace Germany warns that toxic substances can cause illness.
The campaign group analysed 47 SHEIN products and found that 15 per cent contained ‘hazardous chemicals’ at levels that breach EU regulatory limits.
The report warns that these chemicals pose a threat to the ecosystems and the health of the consumers.
“Greenpeace Germany’s findings show that the use of hazardous chemicals underpins SHEIN’s ultra Fashion for the fast paced world business model, which is the opposite of being future-proof,” warned Viola Wohlgemuth, Toxics and Circular economy Campaigner with Greenpeace Germany.
“SHEIN products containing hazardous chemicals are flooding European markets and breaking regulations – which are not being enforced by the authorities.”
Euronews reached out to SHEIN in an effort to get their opinion.
What chemicals does Shein clothing contain?
Greenpeace analysed the chemical composition of 47 SHEIN products – for men, women and children.
It claims that 15 contained ‘concerning’ levels of potentially hazardous ChemistsSeven of them contained sufficient levels to violate regulations.
Five Products Brute limits of 100% or higher
The findings indicated “very high levels of phthalates in shoes and formaldehyde in a baby girl’s dress,” the report found.
Chemicals They can also be released into the air or waterways through the supply chain, posing a risk to ecosystem and human health. These chemicals also make it difficult for clothes to be properly recycled, contributing to the huge global fashion waste crisis.
EU legislation, known as REACH, has very strict guidelines regarding chemical concentrations in clothes. But it needs to “properly enforce” these regulations, Wohlgemuth said.
Is there any other way that fast fashion can impact the environment?
Have you ever found a Fashion You see a deal that seems too good to be real? It’s possible it is.
Although you may only spend a few euros on a top or jumper replacement, there are significant environmental impacts.
It fashion industry This country is responsible for over 10% of all carbon emissions, and it consumes about 100,000,000 tonnes of oil each year. A truckload of textiles is sent to landfill every second or incinerated each year.
Polyester is the main material used in many of these products. Brand clothing It is very high in carbon.
But despite the urgent need to decarbonise, demand for cheap items isn’t slowing. 60% of all new clothing is thrown away by the average buyer in one year.
SHEIN is one of the companies that stands to benefit from this constant cycle. Consumption. Earlier this year, an analysis revealed that 70 per cent of products on sale on SHEIN’S website were less than three months old.
The ultra-cheap model does not just contribute to global warming, but also harms the workers in the supply chain.
“At its core, the linear business model of fast fashion is totally incompatible with a climate-friendly future – but the emergence of ultra fast fashion is further accelerating the climate and environmental catastrophe and must be stopped in its tracks through binding legislation,” Wohlgemuth said.