Is Temu More Ethical Than Shein?

Overview of Temu and Shein

Temu

Temu is an online marketplace and was founded in 2022. It has a wide range of affordable products. Temu follows a direct-to-consumer model and partners with different manufacturers to reduce the costs and has competitive prices. You can find all types of products from fashion items and clothing to electronics and everyday items in Temu. They deliver the product worldwide and are known by millions of people. They depend on the global supply chain and do fast shipping to any part of the world. Its popularity is increasing day by day and so are their product catalogs.

Shein

Shein started as a small e-commerce store that was primarily focused on women’s fashion in 2008. Since then, it has evolved into a global giant and has a wide range of products. You can find all types of fashion items from clothing to makeups and much more in Shein. It also operates on a direct-to-customer basis and cuts off the middleman costs to reduce overall prices. This made the items affordable for everyone. They are one of the largest fashion retailers in the world .Even though it is very popular, it has still faced criticism for ethical reasons.

Offerings and Affordability

Temu

In Temu, you can find all types of products such as fashion items, electronics, beauty products, pet supplies and much more. It is available on both mobile phones(applications) and websites. Due to their user-friendly interface with easy navigation and personalized recommendations, it is very easy to use.

The products available in the Temu are normally lower priced than most retailers. This is because they cut of the middle person and connects buyers directly with the suppliers. Temu also offers many sales, discounts and promotional codes to reduce the price for budget conscious people.

Shein:

Shein is mostly famous for the variety of products in fashionwear. These products can be of any category from men, women and children clothing to beauty items, home decorations or other accessories. Their main target is younger audience (Gen Z and millennials) that follow the trends and want fast-fashion items at low prices.

In the fashion industry, their prices are relatively very low, and you can get most items between the range of $5 - $30. You can also get many discounts and other promotions to reduce the price even more. If you are a regular buyer, you can also get benefits like Shein pro or Shein Saver that provides free shipping and many other benefits.

Labor Practices

Temu

Temu has faced many allegations when it comes to labor practices. In June 2023, US Congressional report said that Temu lack a meaningful compliance with Uyghur Forced Labor and exploit them within its supply chain. And in August 2024, 20 US state attorneys also bought the information regarding labor conditions into sight and their possible ties with the Chinese Communist party.

Temu has put itself away from this and said it strictly prohibits any use of force or child labor. But people still do believe that they are not transparent about it and have concerns about their ethical compliance.

Shein

Shein has also been criticized for labor violations. Some investigations have stated that the workers in the supplier factories of Shein have to work up to 75 hours a week. This is more than the legal work limits in China.

Shein was accused of child labor within its supply chain. It was later admitted by them in 2023. Since then, they have followed even stricter measures to make sure this does not happen again. But even after all that, Shein still faces challenges to make sure its widespread network of suppliers follows fair labor practices.

Environmental Impact

Temu:

Temu follows a business model that is based on affordability and fast delivery. This has led to significant environmental concerns. They rely on air cargo for cross-border delivery which can lead to an increase in carbon emissions. Reports have said that each Temu order can generate almost 10 Kg of CO2 on average.

The items on Temu are also available at very low cost. This can result in overconsumption and so the increase in waste and environmental degradation. Temu has still not disclosed its sustainability initiatives publicly which raises the question of doubt against them.

Shein:

Shein has also faced a lot of criticism for its environmental practices. The company has a rapid production cycle and uses synthetic materials. This can contribute to environmental degradation. In 2022, the production volume of Shein increase by 57% and so also increased emissions by 52%. Total CO2 emission was estimated to be around 9.17 million tons.

To eliminate these issues, Shein has launched initiatives like “EvoluSHEIN” line. They make clothes from recycled materials. In their US app, they have also started a resale service to promote secondhand fashion where you can buy or sale your items. People have criticized these efforts saying that their scope is limited and is not very effective.

Consumer Perception and Criticism

Because of these issues, both Shein and Temu have faced criticism from people. Shein has been very transparent about their intentions and how they can solve them for a better tomorrow. They have launched a resale platform to promote sustainable practices and avoid environmental effects.

Temu on the other hand has lesser public disclosure of its initiatives to tackle these issues. While both companies face these issues, Shein has made more visible efforts to improve their practices as compared to Temu.

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FAQs

1. Is Temu more ethical than Shein?

Both companies have faced ethical concerns. But Shein has shown more efforts to solve these problems.

2. What are the major criticisms of Temu?

Temu face allegations for exploiting labor and lack of transparency.

3. Why is Shein criticized for its business practices?

Shein face criticism for labore violation and allegations for property theft.

4. Does Shein have sustainability initiatives?

Yes. Shein has introduced initiatives like “EvoluSHEIN” to make items from recycled materials.

5. Which platform is more environmentally friendly?

None of them can be described as eco-friendly. But Shein has taken some steps toward sustainability.

6. Are both platforms affordable for consumers?

Yes. Both these platforms are affordable. Temu has more categories of items and is generally low prices.