European study finds hazardous chemicals in Shein and Temu footwear

A study coordinated by the European Footwear Confederation (CEC) has revealed that over one-third of footwear purchased from major e-commerce platforms, including Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, fails to meet European safety standards for chemical substances.

Conducted between February and May 2026 across seven European countries, the investigation analyzed 76 pairs of shoes. The results showed that 35.5% of the samples contained at least one non-compliant substance. Findings included excessive levels of phthalates, formaldehyde, hexavalent chromium, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and short-chain chlorinated paraffins. Notably, one product contained a phthalate concentration of 37%, which is approximately 370 times the 0.1% limit established by the EU's REACH regulation.

The study also highlighted significant safety failures in products marketed as personal protective equipment (PPE). Eight out of ten safety shoe models tested failed to meet ISO standards, exhibiting deficiencies in slip resistance, puncture protection, and impact resistance. Additionally, many of these products lacked mandatory CE marking and required conformity documentation.