Erikshjälpen Second Hand stops accepting clothes from SHEIN

- We have made the decision based on reports from Greenpeace, as well as the warnings issued by the Swedish Chemicals Agency and the Swedish Consumer Agency regarding garments from direct imports, such as SHEIN, says Cathrine Kylesten, Sustainability Manager at Erikshjälpen Second Hand.

The Sustainability Manager emphasizes that the decision follows the precautionary principle under the Environmental Code, which means that activities should prevent risks to both human health and the environment.

Uncertainty about product quality and manufacturing

According to Erikshjälpen, it is difficult to ensure that directly imported products from SHEIN meet European requirements on content and working conditions.

- By avoiding selling products from SHEIN, we at Erikshjälpen Second Hand Hand can maintain our values of sustainability, justice and ethics in consumption, says Cathrine Kylesten.

For platforms, such as AliExpress, Temu and Wish, which also sell products of questionable quality and manufacture, it is more difficult to introduce guidelines, as they operate as multi-brand marketplaces.

What happens to existing products?

Both the products from SHEIN that are already available at Erikshjälpen Second Hand and those that are handed in in the future will be handled as textile waste. In municipalities where textile sorting is not available, it is sorted as combustible.

The decision not to accept or sell products from SHEIN may be reconsidered if the products comply with Swedish legislation in the future.