SHEIN appoints Global Head of Sustainability amid growing scrutiny

Fast fashion company SHEIN has appointed Mustan Lalani to lead its global sustainability efforts, amid growing scrutiny on the company’s environmental impact.

In a Linkedin post, Lalani said he was thrilled to step into his new role, stating that his focus would be on embedding circularity, decarbonisation, and strategic partnerships into the core of the business.

“As one of the world’s largest fashion and retail platforms and a pioneer in on-demand fashion, SHEIN represents a disruptive model with the potential to drive sustainability at an unparalleled scale,” Lalani said.

Lalani has over 14 years of experience in sustainability and corporate affairs, and previously served as Sustainability Director for North and East Europe at Tetra Pak. He has an Honours degree in Actuarial Science and Statistics from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Insead.

The LinkedIn post continues: “The scale and complexity of this challenge are immense, but so is the opportunity to set a new standard for sustainability in the industry. The work ahead requires bold ideas, collaboration, and action. If you’re passionate about shaping the future of sustainable fashion, please get in touch.”

SHEIN sustainability track record

Founded in 2008, SHEIN has become a leading global online retailer, serving customers in over 150 countries with affordable, trend-focused fashion. Lalani’s appointment marks a pivotal moment for the company as it aims to align its business model with sustainability objectives.

The company has come under sustained criticism for its ESG impact, including an investigation by the Italian Competition Authority into greenwashing and a detailed report from Swiss watchdog Public Eye in 2021, which accused SHEIN of violating Chinese labour laws.

evoluSHEIN roadmap

In June 2023 it launched its evoluSHEIN roadmap across key social, environmental and governance issues. More recently, in December, the company announced the establishment of two new advisory bodies to help the company to achieve its corporate responsibility and sustainability objectives.

At the time, SHEIN’s President of EMEA and Global Head of Public Affairs, Leonard Lin said: “The success of our business depends on the effective implementation of our evoluSHEIN sustainability and social impact strategy, and on ensuring that our growth strategy creates value for the communities where we operate.”

The company’s previous Global Head of Environmental, Social and Governance, Adam Whinston, left last July after three years with the organisation.