Shein

Overwhelmingly uses virgin fossil-fuel polyester, driving high extraction impacts, while lacking biodiversity protection or tracing policies.

Sells garments meant to be worn only a few times; high volume of cheap synthetic materials that cannot be recycled and end up in landfills.

High-emission air-freight logistics model sending millions of individual packages worldwide, resulting in extreme carbon intensity per item.

Testing shows hazardous chemicals and heavy metals in clothing lines; mass synthetic garments shed massive amounts of microplastics.

Underpays factory workers, forces extreme overtime (up to 75 hours/week), and lacks meaningful unionization or grievance mechanisms.