See What
Comes Out
In The Wash
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EvoluSHEIN or DevoluSHEIN?
Shein’s so-called sustainability collection, “EvoluSHEIN by Design,” claims to include products made with at least 30% “preferred materials,” such as recycled polyester, forest-safe viscose, and rescued materials. Among these is a pair of baby sweatpants marketed with a green stamp because, according to the website, they contain more than 50% recycled material.
But what does that really mean? It means these sweatpants are made with recycled polyester—a material that, in 98% of cases, comes from plastic bottles rather than recycled textiles. This practice disrupts established bottle recycling systems and creates a dead-end for garment recycling. Clothing made from recycled plastic bottles cannot be efficiently recycled into new textiles, meaning items like these sweatpants are destined for landfills or incineration once discarded.
What’s more, recycled polyester does nothing to address the larger issue of microplastic pollution. These tiny, invisible particles are shed throughout a garment’s lifecycle—when worn, washed, or discarded and are not just an environmental but also health risk. Science shows that children are among the most vulnerable to microplastic exposure, which poses significant health risks, including chronic inflammation and respiratory issues.
By slapping a green label on plastic-based baby clothing, Shein is greenwashing a product that will pollute throughout its entire existence.
Published November 2024.