The Chinese cheap fashion group Shein is flooding Europe with fast fashion. According to a Greenpeace investigation, there are dangerous ingredients in some Shein products.
The Chinese fashion supplier Shein is so fast and so cheap that it is no longer considered fast fashion but an ultra fast fashion brand. Despite being heavily criticized for copying competitors’ designs, tolerating poor working conditions and delivering poor quality, Shein made $16 billion in sales last year. The customers are young and social media savvy, located in the USA as well as in Europe.
Greenpeace Germany is now accusing the cheap supplier of using dangerous chemicals in some of its products. And to such an extent that the limit values of the European chemicals regulation “REACH” are sometimes exceeded a hundredfold. The environmental organization established this in a specially commissioned study.
Strained boots and dresses
Greenpeace had a total of 47 Shein articles tested for harmful substances in a laboratory. Seven of them contained so many toxic substances that they broke the limits. Five pairs of shoes, boots and slippers showed extremely high concentrations of phthalate. According to the Federal Environment Agency, phthalates can damage health by altering the endocrine system and impair male fertility, for example. A pair of Shein snow boots contained 685 times the legal measurement.
In addition, a glitter dress for girls contained too much formaldehyde, a pair of Sitletto boots and a synthetic leather motorcycle jacket were contaminated with nickel. Overall, at least one dangerous chemical was detected in 45 of the 47 articles, “albeit mostly in relatively low concentrations,” writes Greenpeace. The test buyers bought the products in various European online shops and a pop-up store in Munich. They were made in China.
Greenpeace is not only concerned that Shein is willing to accept possible damaging effects on customers in Europe. “It also seems obvious that Shein has little control over the handling of hazardous substances within its supply chain.” Workers are exposed to these during production and the environment is polluted by the chemicals. “Chemicals that are potentially carcinogenic when wearing a textile in Germany are even more so for the workers in Shein’s factories in China. Hazardous chemicals must be banned from all textile production by law,” demands Greenpeace expert Viola Wohlgemuth.
Of the star Shein has asked for comment on the Greenpeace investigation. The company replied that it takes product safety very seriously. Suppliers would have to comply with standards such as the EU regulation REACH. The products named by Greenpeace were “immediately removed” until the conclusion of their own investigations. If the allegations are confirmed, further steps will be taken against the suppliers.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
