Fast-fashion giant Shein outperforms several Australian retailers on ethics, report says

Australia's Baptist World Aid ethical fashion report, released on Tuesday, revealed that fast-fashion giant Shein outperformed several Australian retailers in terms of ethical standards. The report assessed the ethical practices of 138 Australian and international companies, representing 543 fashion brands. Only 13% of the surveyed companies could provide evidence of paying a living wage to workers in their supply chain.

Shein received a score of 28, placing it above Myer, Windsor Smith, Ghanda, Quiksilver owner Boardriders, Temu, Seafolly, 2XU, Boardriders, Bec and Bridge, all of which scored below 30. The swimwear brand Seafolly and activewear maker 2XU were given the lowest scores of one and two, respectively. While Shein's score was below the average of 31.5, it beat several well-known retailers.

The report highlighted that Australia has the highest textile consumption per person in the world, with over 200,000 tonnes of clothing ending up in landfill annually. Shein's score improved from previous years, attributed to public scrutiny and a change in its practices. However, the report emphasized that more needs to be done to compel fashion companies to improve their ethical practices, suggesting that government action is necessary.