reducing waste with our on-demand business model
Our on-demand business model lets us order what customers want, when they want it. For each item, we order the production of only a small initial batch of 100 to 200 pieces and respond directly to customer demand to determine future orders from our suppliers. SHEIN seeks to keep our unsold inventory rate low and strives to minimize waste right from the beginning.
Leveraging Technology to Conserve Resources
We are continuously optimizing efficiency along the value chain to conserve resources – water, energy and raw materials — minimizing consumption and waste to use only what is needed, not more.
In line with leveraging our edge in innovation, we invest in the research and development of manufacturing technology and production processes that consume less water, and encourage the adoption of these technologies and practices among our suppliers. We work with and encourage our suppliers to adopt practices to consume less water through new manufacturing technology and production processes.
In December 2018, we launched our digital thermal transfer printing initiative, a zero-water waste printing method verified by Bureau Veritas.
SHEIN is also working with suppliers to increase adoption of cool transfer denim printing technology, which uses reactive ink in place of conventional indigo colorants, to print denim textures, artwork or patterns onto a transfer film. The designs on the transfer film are then imprinted onto white denim fabric using cold transfer equipment, replicating the effects of washing denim to produce features such as faded finishes, whiskering, and retro-worn effects. This method was verified by Bureau Veritas in October 2023 to use 70.5% less water than traditional denim apparel washing methods.
In total, these two water-less innovations were used for the production of around 51% of SHEIN’s directly sourced printed fabrics in 2024, which corresponds to over 550,000 cubic metres of water saved.
These techniques perfectly support SHEIN’s small-batch production process, cutting down on inventory waste and conserving resources from the start.