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Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fashion giant Shein makes surprising announcement amid backlash over alleged human rights violations — here's what's happening
Fast-fashion giant Shein is hosting its largest-ever Australian pop-up store in Sydney this month. The effort comes as the company faces mounting criticism over its environmental impact and alleged human rights violations. Shein is opening a temporary shop in Sydney, hoping to draw more customers to its ultra-cheap clothing. The Daily Telegraph calls the pop-up "a rare chance for customers to see and try on Shein's typically online-only offerings." The pop-up will showcase 11 of Shein's sub-labels, including a new brand called Aralina, which the company promotes as sustainable and "wellness-inspired." A quick look at Aralina clothing online shows many items are made of polyester, a synthetic fabric commonly made from plastic, and priced similarly to the low cost of other low-quality Shein items, raising doubts about the company's eco-friendly claims. As The Daily Telegraph notes, Shein faces mounting scrutiny over allegations of forced labor, particularly involving Uyghur workers in China. The company also faces ongoing criticism of the environmental impact of its fast-fashion business. Shein denies these allegations. Fast fashion raises concerns around quality and ethics, affecting wardrobes and the wider world. These high-quantity, low-quality brands often rely on cheap materials and exploitative labor practices, making them a frequent target of criticism. Environmental organizations condemn fast fashion for fueling overconsumption and excessive textile waste. Because fast-fashion garments are made as cheaply as possible, they tend to wear out quickly, encouraging a cycle of constant buying and discarding, which has a major environmental impact. reports that more than 92 million tonnes (over 101 million tons) of textile waste end up in landfills each year. In the U.S. alone, the average person throws away about 81.5 pounds of clothing annually. Globally, only about 12% of used clothing is recycled. Additionally, the environmental damage caused by fast-fashion production, such as polluted waterways, toxic chemical use, and excessive resource consumption, often impacts the health and well-being of local communities. These environmental hazards infringe on human rights by threatening access to clean water, food, and safe living conditions. At the same time, many fast-fashion brands rely on low-cost labor in countries where worker protections are nonexistent. Garment workers endure long hours, unsafe conditions, and low wages. In some supply chains, child labor and forced labor have been documented, particularly in China. What should be done to make home solar panels cheaper? More tax incentives Lower installation costs Better loan options They're cheap enough already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While there are growing global efforts to regulate fast fashion through government legislation and industry-led initiatives, the movement is still developing, and enforcement can be inconsistent. Meanwhile, you can make a difference by breaking up with fast fashion. While it can seem like you are saving money while shopping fast fashion, experts estimate that you can save $200 or more a year by investing in fewer, higher-quality sustainable pieces that last longer. If shopping high-quality, sustainable brands isn't in your budget, consider shopping secondhand. Thrifting from local stores or resale platforms such as ThredUp saves money and reduces the environmental and human impact of clothing production. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Verge
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Verge
Farmers win legal fight to bring climate resources back to federal websites
After farmers filed suit, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has agreed to restore climate information to webpages it took down soon after President Donald Trump took office this year. The US Department of Justice filed a letter late last night on behalf of the USDA that says the agency 'will restore the climate-change-related web content that was removed post-inauguration, including all USDA webpages and interactive tools' that were named in the plaintiffs' complaint. It says the work is already 'underway' and should be mostly done in about two weeks. If the Trump administration fulfills that commitment, it'll be a significant victory for farmers and other Americans who rely on scientific data that has disappeared from federal websites since January. 'We're ecstatic.' 'I'll be real frank, it feels good to win one, right? Farmers have been so put upon by the actions of this administration that, you know, it feels good to be able to say, we have something for you. This is back. You can rely on these resources,' says Marcie Craig, executive director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York. 'We're ecstatic.' The group filed suit in February alongside two environmental organizations, alleging that the USDA threatened organic farmers' livelihoods by removing information they relied on to help them make decisions about planting crops and managing their land — key resources as climate change leads to more unpredictable and extreme weather. One of the resources removed by the USDA is an online tool called the 'Climate Risk Viewer' that showed the impacts of climate change on rivers and water sheds, and how that might affect water supplies in the future. 'We're really glad that USDA recognized that this blatantly unlawful purge is harming farmers and researchers and advocates all across the country, and we're ready to ensure that USDA follows through on this promise,' Jeffrey Stein, an associate attorney with the nonprofit legal organization Earthjustice that represented the plaintiffs, tells The Verge. The initial complaint accused the USDA of violating the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that gives the public the right to access key records from any federal agency, the Paperwork Reduction Act that stipulates adequate notice before changing access to information, and the Administrative Procedure Act that governs the way federal agencies develop regulations. President Trump's backing of the fossil fuel industry has also stripped farmers of federal funding through climate-related programs. The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York has lost nearly half of its budget this year due to funding freezes, which it has been trying to make up for through donations, according to Craig. 'This has been one of so many cuts. You know, pain by a thousand cuts,' Craig says. 'This [legal victory] was good … then, of course, after the initial feeling, you sit back, you take a breath, and you say, 'and we still have a whole lot of work to do.''
