Recycling center bans Shein products in Helsinki metropolitan area due to safety concerns

The recycling center in the Helsinki metropolitan area has announced it will no longer accept, sell, or distribute products from the Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein. This is the first time such a ban has been imposed on a specific brand. The decision stems from concerns over Shein’s poor product quality and reported hazardous chemicals found in its items. A test conducted by Yle revealed that five out of seven Shein products contained harmful substances.

According to the recycling center, product safety regulations compel them to assess whether items pose risks to consumers. “Clothes often arrive in large bags, so we accept everything, but Shein’s products end up as waste, meaning they are incinerated,” explained Seija Vennervirta, the center’s communications director.

The center is calling for clear guidelines from authorities regarding which products should not be sorted for sale or distribution, as ultra-fast fashion brands like Shein remain popular. “Recyclers find it hard to evaluate the safety of Shein’s products. We are now largely making these decisions based on public discourse,” Vennervirta added.

The recycling center receives an average of 40,000 donated items daily, making it impractical to conduct thorough responsibility analyses on every product.

There has also been media discussion about the subpar quality of products from another Chinese brand, Temu. “The challenge with Temu’s products is that they may not be easily identified like Shein’s clothing, but they face similar environmental concerns due to their lack of durability,” Vennervirta noted.

The goal of recycling centers is to conserve natural resources and keep goods circulating for as long as possible. There are 14 recycling center stores in the metropolitan area.