Shein’s 2024 sustainability report reveals a 13.7% surge in emissions from product transport. The company attributed 8.52 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent to shipping goods to and between its facilities, and to customers returns included which compared to 7.49 million in 2023.
Methodology Revision Results in Adjusted 2023 Baseline
The fast-fashion giant has updated its 2023 emissions from 6.35 million metric tons, citing changes in how figures were calculated. While Shein continues to promote sustainability goals, the report points to ongoing reliance on carbon-heavy air transport.
High Dependency on Air Freight Drives Emissions Profile
The emissions intensity of Shein’s logistics is driven by its reliance on air freight, with goods flown from around 7,000 Chinese suppliers to consumers in over 150 countries. The contrasts sharply with Inditex, the parent company of Zara, which reported 2.61 million metric tons of CO₂e from transport in 2024. Its figure was less than one-third of Shein’s despite also increasing air shipping.
Incremental Operational Adjustments Underway
Shein has taken steps to shift away from its current model. The company expanded the use of sea freight and trucking in 2024, which are less carbon-intensive, and began building out localised production and logistics hubs in Brazil and Turkey.
Speaking at the Viva Technology conference in Paris, Shein Executive Chairman Donald Tang acknowledged the ongoing challenges. “We do have localised places like Brazil, like Turkey … so all these things are in the works. Are we fast enough? Are we perfect? Of course not. There are a lot of things that we have to do.”
Shein says its approach allows it to manufacture based on customer demand, which helps reduce waste and unsold inventory. Still, the environmental cost of rapid global delivery continues to draw scrutiny.
Increased Legal and Regulatory Oversight
Shein’s growing emissions have not gone unnoticed by regulators. This week, France’s Senate approved a revised fast fashion law that could ban advertising by Shein and its rival Temu. Lawmakers specifically criticised Shein’s environmental footprint, raising pressure on the company to accelerate reforms.
The scrutiny comes amid Shein’s ongoing attempt to list on a public stock exchange. After abandoning a London IPO, the company is now pursuing a Hong Kong listing, having failed to secure approval from Chinese regulators.
Formal Targets and Supply Chain Oversight Measures
Shein has committed to a 25% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030, using 2023 as a baseline. These targets were approved by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) in May 2025, marking a formal step toward accountability.
The company is also increasing oversight of its sprawling supply chain. Shein conducted 4,288 on-site audits, up from 3,990 in 2023, and ended relationships with 12 suppliers over policy violations—more than double the number from the year prior in 2024.
The company’s 2024 sustainability report makes clear that Shein’s operational growth continues to outpace its emissions-cutting efforts. The question now is whether its sustainability initiatives can catch up with its global ambitions.