SHEIN continues to strengthen its environmental, operational and workplace management practices across the facilities it directly manages with enhancement of its environmental, occupational health and safety, waste management, and water, health and sanitation systems across facilities in China. Together, these initiatives support the implementation of evoluSHEIN, the company’s sustainability roadmap, by reinforcing governance processes and operational capabilities in facilities under its direct oversight.
This work builds on established investments across SHEIN’s logistics and innovation network, including warehouse modernisation, fulfilment process optimisation, and the development of the Centre of Innovation for Garment Manufacturing (CIGM) to support greater efficiency and consistency in garment production.
Adoption of ISO-Aligned Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
In 2025, six SHEIN-operated logistics parks obtained ISO 14001 (for Environmental Management Systems) and ISO 45001 (for Occupational Health and Safety) certifications following audits conducted by SGS. These certifications confirm that the facilities have established management systems aligned with internationally recognised standards.
ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 provide structured frameworks that guide organisations in defining responsibilities, setting objectives, and implementing processes to manage environmental aspects and occupational health and safety risks. Within SHEIN-operated facilities, application of these standards supports a structured approach to health and safety management as well as environmental oversight. This includes regular risk identification and assessment, reviews of operational procedures and emergency preparedness in response to regulatory or operational changes, and structured training and communication to reinforce employee awareness and accountability.
The certification process also requires regular internal and external audits to verify implementation of required procedures and to support continuous improvement. By aligning its self-operated logistics parks with ISO standards, SHEIN seeks to strengthen the governance framework across environmental management and workplace health and safety processes in its facilities, recognising that effective outcomes depend on sustained oversight, review and improvement.
Enhancing Waste and Resource Management Practices
As part of its broader approach to resource efficiency, SHEIN continues to strengthen waste management practices across SHEIN-managed facilities. In 2025, eight additional SHEIN-managed facilities obtained Zero Waste to Landfill Management System certification from TÜV Rheinland (TÜVR), an independent third-party audit partner. This brings the total number of certified SHEIN-managed facilities to 15, including the CIGM. Seven facilities that had previously achieved certification also renewed their certification, reflecting continued alignment with required controls and practices.
The certification evaluates a facility’s waste management practices, specifically how effectively it manages waste to avoid landfill disposal. The evaluation reviews both the documented procedures governing routine waste handling as well as the outcomes achieved through those processes. Following the latest certifications, all self-operated warehouses in China and nearly half of SHEIN-managed facilities in the country meet the standard.
Across fulfilment operations in its warehouses, SHEIN continues to evaluate opportunities to reduce resource use at the source. This includes reviewing how packaging, consumables and other materials are utilised within the warehouse and identifying where reuse systems or process refinements may further limit waste generation.
Reducing Single-Use Consumables in Fulfilment Operations
Within SHEIN-operated fulfilment centres, optimisation of single-use materials remains an important focus. Targeted measures have been implemented across selected facilities to increase reuse and decrease single-use inputs; these measures include:
- Replacing paper cartons with reusable burlap bags for internal movement and storage
- Narrowing adhesive tape width to reduce plastic content per roll
- Modifying carton thickness for returns and outbound shipments
- Securing loads using reusable straps in place of plastic stretch film
- Minimising the number of packaging bags required per order
- Reusing plastic pallets to reduce the need for new pallet purchases
These actions aim to reduce material intensity, lower waste volume, and reduce reliance on single-use packaging formats, while maintaining operational safety and product protection. Collectively, they have reduced or avoided approximately 932 metric tonnes of waste material.
Advancing Our Commitment to WASH
SHEIN’s approach to water, sanitation and hygiene is embedded within its broader water stewardship framework and its commitment to respect human rights, including the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. In 2024, SHEIN published a Water Stewardship Policy that defines principles, expectations, and guidance for water management improvement practices. This policy applies to SHEIN-operated facilities and also defines expectations for value chain partners, along with guidelines for responsible water usage and management.
Building on this framework, SHEIN continues to formalise and strengthen the assessment of water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions across its facilities. In 2025, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) assessments were completed at 28 self-operated warehouses and at the CIGM, expanding structured assessment coverage from 22 to 29 sites globally.
These assessments were conducted using the WASH4WORK framework, an initiative supported by the UN Global Compact and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and evaluated sites based on access to clean drinking water, availability and condition of sanitation facilities, and provision of handwashing infrastructure and hygiene supplies.
The results confirmed that SHEIN-operated facilities comply with the standards set by the WASH4WORK self-assessment tool, reinforcing SHEIN’s focus on strengthening water stewardship practices and supporting access to water across its operations.
