Regional op shops resist fast fashion ban
Wednesday, 1 October 2025
While some regional op shops aren’t considering banning donations from fast fashion outfits, they are seeing a change in consumer behaviour.
Fast fashion is the rapid design, production and distribution of cheap, on trend clothing which is made in large volumes.
In July, Xtreme Zero Waste resource recovery centre in Raglan banned donations of clothing from Shein, the global online fast fashion retailer which was founded in China in 2008.
It cited several reasons for it decision, including the low quality of the clothing and the amount of it, as well as concerns about unethical workplace practices used to create the items.
Recent research commissioned by Tearfund NZ found about one in four Kiwis shopped on Chinese online shopping platform Temu, and about 550,000 from Shein.
Last year, Greenpeace raised its concerns about the fast fashion industry’s impact on Aotearoa.
It said every year, 180,000 tonnes of clothing and textile waste was thrown out, which was equal to about 6429 shipping containers.
Paul Lamb, Te Kahu Pairuri ki Taranaki/Hospice Taranaki chief executive, said some customers had told its charity store staff they didn’t want to buy products from Shein and Temu, sharing their concerns about the quality of the items and the labour practices used to make them.
“We’ve had those comments,” he said.
He said a ban on accepting goods from the likes of Shein was not on the cards, as due to the sheer volume of donated clothing it received, volunteers did not have the time to sift through them all.
However, he said people did look at the labels of clothing, so knew “what they’re getting”.
He said often they got donations from Shein and Temu in their original packaging, but it was priced at the “low end” of the scale.
“If it’s good enough to sell, then we put it on our shelves.”
Liz Davies, Habitat for Humanity Nelson’s ReStore manager, said the charity received a mix of brands, including fast-fashion labels, and it focussed on extending the life of clothing wherever possible.
“We’ve adopted practical ways to respond to changing consumer behaviour, and by keeping clothes in circulation, we help families access affordable options while supporting a more sustainable use of resources.”
She said its stores in Tāhunanui, Nelson and Motueka were fortunate to receive “very generous donations from our community”.
Davies said while some of the donations weren’t always suitable for re-sale, they were not wasted.
Through its Free Store and partnerships with other charities, the items were given away, Davies said.
“This ensures that goods that can’t be sold still provide value and support within the community.”
In response to questions on the topic, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds said the Government recognised the impacts of fast fashion, particularly textile waste and the release of synthetic fibres into the environment.
“While there are no current plans to mandate the use of sustainable textiles, we are supporting industry-led action and encouraging businesses to adopt more sustainable practices across their supply chains,” Simmonds said in a statement.
She said there were also legislative reforms on the way to provide more tools to reduce and manage waste across all sectors.
“Our approach is measured to ensure that any changes are practical, that industry has time to adapt, and that households are supported to make sustainable choices,” she said.
“New Zealand is also working internationally on a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. While fast fashion is not specifically included, textiles are recognised as a contributor to microplastic pollution, and eliminating plastic leakage into the environment is a key part of the negotiations.”
This year, France passed legislation, dubbed the ‘Shein and Temu law’, which seeks to impose extra taxes and penalties on fast fashion items.