Nearly one-third of tested Shein garments exceeded EU chemical safety limits, renewing concerns over fast-fashion’s environmental and health risks.
A new investigation by Greenpeace Germany has found that clothing sold by Shein continues to contain dangerous levels of toxic chemicals, despite the retailer’s promises to improve product safety. In tests of 56 garments purchased from Shein’s online platform, 18 items — including children’s clothing — exceeded the legal limits set by the EU’s REACH regulation.
The detected substances included phthalates, commonly used as plasticisers, and PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals” employed for water- and stain-resistance. Both categories are associated with serious health impacts, such as cancer, reproductive harm, developmental disorders in children, and impaired immune function.
While consumers face exposure through skin contact, sweat and inhaled fibres, the greatest burden falls on workers and ecosystems in manufacturing regions. When garments are produced, laundered, or discarded, these chemicals enter waterways, soil, and ultimately the food chain.
The findings renew pressure on Shein as it expands aggressively in Western markets, and they underscore the growing disconnect between the speed of ultra-fast fashion and the regulatory demands of Europe’s chemical safety framework. With Brussels advancing stricter rules under the EU’s textile strategy — including upcoming limits on PFAS — the company may face heightened compliance risks.
Environmental groups argue the results reveal a systemic issue, not isolated lapses. As policymakers intensify scrutiny, Shein and its peers will be pushed to prove that low-cost fashion need not come at the expense of health and the environment.
