Lufthansa Cargo, the European market leader in air freight transport and daughter of Lufthansa AG, will in future be responsible for the international deliveries of the Ultra-Fast fashion articles from Shein. Sustainable flight fuel should be gradually used for this.
This agreement illustrates the contradiction between political regulations and economic interests. She is already criticizing the French Association of Women’s Fashion (Fédération Française du prêt à porter féminin, ffpapf).
A declaration of intent (Memorandum of Understanding, Mou) signed on August 19, 2025 states that the two partners will have to define and implement concrete measures in the next six months:
Procurement of SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel), a fuel that is made from renewable raw materials such as old pee oils, agricultural residues, waste, biomass or even e-fuel based on green hydrogen and secluded CO₂.
Official consideration of the amounts of sustainable flight fuel used, certified by so -called proof of sustainability. These certificates are based on norms that make it possible to understand and document the emission reduction achieved compared to conventional kerosene.
Strengthening the traceability of operating and environmental data. The declared goal is to create transparency about the ecological and logistical effects of the air transport of the Shein articles.
Political will and economic challenges in conflict
This agreement, as stated in the press release, “establishes Lufthansa Cargo as the central player in the logistics of the Shein articles”. At the end of January, however, the German federal government presented a comprehensive action plan to regulate online trading, which fits into the measures of the European Commission.
The contradiction? The discrepancy between the declared political goal of regulating the actors of the Ultra-Fast fashion, and the economic realities of the large corporations that are based on this platforms to expand their business.
As a memory: Lufthansa Cargo belongs to the Lufthansa Group, which has, among others, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines. According to the annual report, the group promoted over 130 million passengers in addition to freight transport.
Greenwashing according to the French Association of Women’s Fashion
“We are experiencing the hypocrisy’s peak: To what extent does it make polyester products and disposable items more ecological if they are transported with less CO₂-intensive kerosene?” Asks Yann Rivoallan, vehement critic of the Ultra-Fast-Fashion and President of the FFPAFF, in conversation with fashionunited. “This is, forgive me for the expression, eyewiping. This multinational group is attracted by the constantly growing flight volumes of the ultra-fast fashion actors. In order to calm his conscience or to meet certain norms, he dares to swing the Greenwashing-Kule.”
“Let’s not be fooled by these actions,” he adds. “The only way to get to an ecological fashion with quality products can be stopped. We protect consumers: inside and European jobs.”
This article was used with digital tools translated.
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