· 2 min read
illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on POLITICO or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Italy’s antitrust authority (AGCM) has fined fast-fashion giant Shein €1 million for misleading environmental claims
• The Chinese retailer was found to have promoted its clothing lines with vague or deceptive sustainability messaging, including overstating the recyclability of its “evoluSHEIN by design” collection and misrepresenting its emissions reduction progress
🔭 The context: This is the second time in two months that Shein has faced greenwashing penalties in Europe — France issued a €40 million fine in July
• The scrutiny aligns with a broader EU effort to hold online platforms accountable under consumer protection and sustainability regulations
• Shein, known for ultra-fast fashion cycles and mass volumes of low-cost clothing, has been under fire for labor, environmental, and transparency issues across global markets
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Greenwashing undermines informed consumer choices and erodes trust in sustainable markets
• Fast fashion, particularly models like Shein’s, contributes significantly to textile waste, overconsumption, and global emissions
• Misleading eco-claims delay genuine sectoral transformation by disguising harmful practices as environmentally sound
⏭️ What's next: The EU is expected to further tighten enforcement under the forthcoming Green Claims Directive and the Digital Services Act
• Investigations into other e-commerce platforms, including Temu and AliExpress, are ongoing
• Shein says it is revising its marketing and compliance processes — yet remains under close regulatory watch across the bloc
💬 One quote: “Shein’s portrayal of its environmental commitments was not only misleading but contradicted by a documented rise in emissions,” stated the AGCM in its ruling
📈 One stat: Shein reported an increase in greenhouse gas emissions across both 2023 and 2024 — despite public pledges to reduce them by 25% by 2030
See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of fashion brands likes H&M and Giorgio Armani
Click for more news covering the latest on greenwashing
