Is Shein Ethical Or Sustainable? What You Need to Know

SHEIN is praised for its cutting-edge designs, affordable prices, and broad product selection. But today we want to discuss is Shein ethical.

No, Shein is not an ethical brand. In fact, it is a fast fashion company that sells incredibly stylish and current clothing at incredibly low prices and drives young women crazy.

Shein is one of the most talked-about brands and has experienced record-breaking sales in recent years. It is a cult favorite among stylish women. Let’s get right to it and learn everything there is to know about Shein!

Table of Contents

Is Shein Fast Fashion?

In short, yes.

Shein is one of the fastest-growing fast fashion retailers online, offering around 500 new items every day at very unbelievably low prices.

It depends on quick turnaround times for designs between the time a garment is spotted on a catwalk or a celebrity and the time it is made available for purchase on the Shein website.

Given how shockingly low SHEIN’s prices are, the garment industry’s workers are probably the ones who suffer in the long run. Most likely, they will receive extremely low pay and put in lengthy, hazardous shifts.

Is Shein Ethical?

No, Shein is not ethical. It does claim to have a Code of Conduct for its manufacturers, and part of its commitment says, “We treat all of our employees like family by providing industry leading working conditions,” but that’s all in the books.

Because none of its production units are certified, there is no proof that these ethical standards are actually upheld.

Shein gained notoriety after being accused of stealing designs from unaffiliated small businesses. Additionally, the business was accused of marketing offensive goods like swastika-inspired necklaces and floor mats with Muslim prayers as part of their home decor. Videos of factory workers scrawling “need your help” messages on clothing labels went viral once more in June 2022. The clothing line has repeatedly been accused of using unfair trade tactics and abusing its workers.

China, a nation with a high risk of human rights violations, is the location of all of Shein’s factories.

These factories, which produce over 10,000 garments each day, are essentially sweatshops where workers are forced to endure appalling working conditions while being paid unfairly. So it seems that Shein has no moral character.

Is Shein Sustainable?

Shein chooses not to provide specific information about its carbon footprint or use of dangerous chemicals, but we can learn a little more about the environmental impact of the business than its labor practices.

Shein anticipates publicly disclosing baseline greenhouse gas emission calculations, but no specifics are given in the sustainability report. The company is still setting objectives to use more renewable energy in its supply chain.

The report also states Shein is “committed to lowering emissions and reducing waste,” but it fails to detail how the company is going to do so. The company is, however, gradually making the switch to using more sustainable materials, such as recycled polyester and recycled materials for packaging.

Shein’s website touts small batch production of new products to “ensure no raw materials are wasted,” though the company admits to engaging in large-scale production of popular items. Shein produces millions of pieces each year, so any claims of small-batch production come off as hollow.

Although these procedures appear to be excellent, there is some doubt as to their true meaning due to the lack of true transparency.

For instance, Shein states that when selecting materials, it “does its best to source recycled fabric, such as recycled polyester.” There are currently 52,000 dresses for sale on the website, but only 64 are allegedly made from recycled polyester. It’s difficult to determine how environmentally friendly these options really are considering that they start at $4 (as opposed to alternatives from sustainable brands that are rarely under $50).

Is Shein Carbon Neutral?

Shein is not a carbon-neutral brand, and they make no claims to be carbon-neutral. Additionally, they don’t have any plans to offset or reduce emissions in order to achieve carbon neutrality.

6.3 million tons of carbon dioxide are thought to be emitted annually by the company, and this number is not expected to decrease any time soon.

Is Shein Legit?

Yes, fast fashion retailer Shein is a legit brand. But you should always exercise caution when shopping! Even though the company has a 4-star rating on Trustpilot, many customers have complained about receiving clothing that looks cheap, having clothes that don’t fit properly, getting their orders late, and having to deal with the brand’s terrible customer service and refund policies. Woah!

That pretty much sums it up!

Strangely, people have even complained that the clothing they received smells chemically. Then again, what can you anticipate from companies like these that use synthetic materials for mass production?

Shein Animal Welfare Policy

Shein offers no information regarding its It doesn’t say whether it traces any animal products to the first stage of production in its Animal Welfare Policy or on its website.

It does not provide cruelty-free products, and Good On You claims that it still uses wool. But it doesn’t make use of exotic animal fur, skin, down, angora, or leather.

Does Shein Harm the Environment?

Over half of fast fashion like Shein is thrown away in less than one year, according to SHEIN is to blame for this trend’s acceleration as an ultra-fast fashion brand that releases thousands of styles every day, according to McKinsey.

Not only does this excessive consumption result in overflowing landfills and the disposal of used clothing in Africa, but it also wastes a tremendous amount of water, energy, and CO2 to produce new clothing that will only be discarded shortly after. SHEIN is bad for the environment in all aspects, including the fabrics, manufacturing, and shipping.

Does Shein Use Child Labour?

As mentioned, Shein has faced rumours that they use child labor to produce their garments.

Shein refutes this claim, stating on its Social Responsibility page that it “never, ever” uses child labor. However, it does not offer the comprehensive supply chain disclosures mandated by British law.

If you have any reservations about purchasing goods from a company that partakes in the practice, it is best to err on the side of caution.

Final Words: is Shein Ethical

Shein claims to be environmentally conscious. But honestly, it’s not sustainable at all. Shein initially states that she produces 50 to 100 pieces in small runs of each design.

To give you an idea of the scale of production per day, imagine that there are thousands of new styles introduced every day, each of which is produced in about 100 pieces.

The brand has a lot of work to do in each of the three categories and needs to significantly improve if it wants to get a better grade.

Where Are Shein Clothes Made?

Shein purchases its clothing from a variety of producers and suppliers around the world, including China, Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam.

Is Shein Good Quality?

Shein pieces are typically not of high quality, but they can be of good quality for the pric

Is Shein Cruelty-Free?

There is no explicit policy against using animals in SHEIN. Although they use wool, they are not certified by reputable animal welfare organizations like PETA, which has strict requirements for businesses to meet in order to be considered cruelty-free.

Why is Shein So Cheap?

Their low prices are the result of their fast fashion practices, use of low-cost labor, and extensive use of sales and discounts.