09/09/2025
Shein isn’t just making cheap clothes—it’s making fashion more polluting than ever. In 2023 alone, the company pumped out 16.7 million tonnes of CO₂, a carbon footprint that has surged by 176% since 2021. Most of its clothing is made from polyester, meaning every wash releases countless microplastics into rivers and oceans. Investigations have also uncovered toxic levels of chemicals like lead in some products, raising serious health concerns.
With thousands of new styles uploaded daily, Shein fuels a cycle of overconsumption and disposable fashion. The result is more waste in landfills, more pollution in water systems, and more damage to the planet—all for the sake of a £5 top.