Recycling rate of fast fashion clothes is low in China.

According to a report from Voice of America (VOA), China stands as the largest global producer and consumer of textiles, with over 26 million tons of clothing being discarded each year. It is emphasized that the majority of cheap clothing from e-commerce giants Shein and Temu is manufactured from non-recyclable synthetic materials, stemming from petrochemicals that can contribute to environmental pollution and climate change.

Additionally, as per a report released by independent fashion watchdog Remake, the environmental, human rights, and fair practice assessment of major clothing companies highlighted Shein and Temu’s low ratings. The report notes that Shein and Temu received only 6 out of 150 points and 0, respectively, despite having 6000 garment factories in China.

On the matter of consumer behavior, University of Delaware fashion and apparel professor Sheng Lu expressed that research consistently indicates consumers are hesitant to pay more for clothing made from recycled materials. In fact, contrary to expectations, consumers often expect lower prices for such items due to their use of second-hand materials.