“Ultra-fast fashion”: Lots of plastic and environmental toxins in disposable fashion!
Products from the Chinese platforms Temu and Shein contain environmental toxins that exceed the limit value by up to 4,000 times. This was the result of a random sample taken by the environmental protection organization Global 2000. The goods also posed a waste problem.
According to the testers, seven of the products examined exceeded several legal limits, in some cases by a large margin. These include forever chemicals (PFAS), plasticizers (phthalates), and heavy metals (lead).
PFAS are long-lasting, toxic, accumulate in the body, and are potentially harmful to reproduction. Plasticizers, on the other hand, have a hormone-like effect and can also impair reproductive ability, according to the report. PFAS were detected in four out of 20 garments. In a women's windbreaker from Temu, the limit was exceeded by 4,154 times. Three pairs of shoes tested contained significant amounts of plasticizers. The shoes from Shein also contained lead, according to the findings.
This information shows again how important our Sustainable Textile Counsellor (STC) project is.
We target teachers and trainers who teach the next generation about ethical textiles, community activists who want to raise awareness about the issue, and also conscious consumers who want to make better choices and inspire others.
The STC project provides the knowledge and tools they need to make the textile sector more environmentally responsible, socially conscious, and able to handle whatever comes next. In order to make the textile industry more environmentally friendly, socially aware, and resilient to the future, we aim to equip all of these individuals with the information and resources they need.
Stay tuned! The coming issues will bring more insights and practical tips!
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or OeAD-GmbH. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. 2024-1-AT01-KA220-VET-000247059
