UPDATE: Following the publication of our article, we have received and published the following comment from Shein: “We work closely with third-party international testing agencies, such as Intertek, SGS, BV and TUV, to regularly conduct tests to ensure supplier compliance with our product safety standards. In the past year, we have conducted more than 400,000 chemical safety tests with these agencies. Our suppliers are required to comply with the controls and standards we have put in place, as well as product safety laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate. SHEIN is committed to working closely with local product safety agencies, monitoring changes and developments in safety laws and regulations, and investing in the continuous optimization of product compliance processes. When we become aware of a complaint, out of an abundance of caution we immediately remove the product(s) from our website while we investigate. If non-compliance is subsequently verified, we will not hesitate to take appropriate control actions with the product supplier”.
Very low prices and a very large quantity of products, these are the main characteristics of Sheinthe Chinese e-commerce platform that has managed to gain a leading role in the fast fashion. Now, however, the Asian giant is called to answer to a German study which highlights the presence of toxic substances harmful to humans inside the Shein clothes. The company, for its part, has declared itself willing to collaborate with the competent authorities to guarantee the safety of its customers, in addition to recalling the commitment already made in this regard.
Toxic Substances in Shein Clothes
The latest accusation against quality and Shein Product Safety comes from one German study conducted by the consumer magazine OK-Test which has analyzed 21 items of clothing for different age groups. Most of these did not pass the safety tests, but rather the presence of toxic substances dangerous for humans, from antimony to dimethylformamide, through lead, cadmium, banned phthalates, naphthalene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
The garments contaminated by toxic substances are of various types and include both clothing adultas in the case of eco-leather jackets, which from teenagers and from childrespectively with clothes and shoes, sold on the Chinese fast fashion platform.
The risks of toxic substances to humans
The toxic substances found by the German study in clothes of Shein can lead to serious risks to humans. Theantimonyfound in a child’s dress soaked in a solution simulating sweat, can be absorbed through the skin and becomes highly toxic if it enters the blood. In the case of dimethylformamidefound in a brightly colored teenage dress, we are dealing with a substance that the European Union considers harmful to fertility.
The worst data for consumers that emerged from the German study, however, concerns a couple of sandals sold on Shein that have been found to be full of toxic, harmful substances that were thought to have disappeared from textile production. Far beyond the limits of European Reach regulation on chemicals, the sandals featured lead And cadmiuma possible cause of reproductive, kidney and bone problems respectively. The content of toxic substances, as reported in the Oko-Test article, “exceeds the already not very strict Reach limit by 15 times”.
Shein’s response
Having learned of the disastrous outcome of the German study, Sheinwhich has been under the close observation of the European Commission for some time now, has said it is willing to make things clear on the incident, while recalling the extensive work it already carries out to ensure the safety of its products.
“We work closely with international analysis agencies third parties, such as Intertek, SGS, BV and TUV – as stated in a note from Shein – to regularly carry out test that ensure suppliers’ compliance with our safety standards of products. Over the past year – continues the message from the Chinese giant – we have conducted more than 400,000 chemical safety tests with these agencies. Our suppliers are required to comply with the controls and standards we have put in place, as well as product safety laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate”.
Then the opening of Shein “a work closely with local security agencies of products, monitoring changes and developments in safety laws and regulations, and investing in the continuous optimization of product compliance processes.” “When we become aware of a complaint,” Shein concluded, “out of an abundance of caution, we immediately remove the product or products from our website while we conduct appropriate investigations. If non-compliance is subsequently verified, we will not hesitate to take appropriate follow-up action with the product supplier.”
