No, Miniso is not a typical fast fashion brand, as its core business focuses on lifestyle goods, accessories, and novelty items rather than clothing. However, its business model shares many characteristics with fast fashion, such as rapid product turnover, trend replication, and rock-bottom prices that encourage a culture of disposability.
Miniso’s ethical practices are concerning due to an extreme lack of transparency in its supply chain, and its sustainability efforts are minimal to non-existent. Here's what you need to know about Miniso's practices:
While Miniso isn't a clothing brand, its operational model mirrors the fast fashion playbook of speed, volume, and low cost.
Miniso's ethical practices are poor, primarily because of a complete lack of transparency, making it impossible to verify how its workers are treated or paid.
Miniso’s supply chain is based mainly in China, Vietnam, and Indonesia, but the brand provides no public information about factory conditions or wages. While there are no major documented labor violations, the absence of transparency raises red flags. Reports suggest some Chinese factory workers earn between $180-$250 per month, far below the estimated living wage of $350-$500, indicating a high risk of worker exploitation.
The company does not publish a list of its suppliers, nor does it provide evidence of third-party audits. This extreme opacity makes it impossible for consumers or watchdog organizations to assess working conditions, safety standards, or wage compliance in its supply chain. Miniso lacks any third-party labor certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000.
Miniso does not appear to use animal-derived materials like leather, fur, or wool in its product range. However, it also lacks any animal welfare certifications, such as PETA-Approved Vegan or Leaping Bunny, for its cosmetics and other products that may require them.
Miniso demonstrates a near-total disregard for sustainability, with a business model that inherently promotes disposability and overconsumption of plastic goods.
The vast majority of Miniso's products are made from cheap plastics, polyester, and other synthetic, fossil fuel-based materials. There is no information about recycled content and no evidence of the brand using sustainable alternatives like organic cotton or GOTS-certified textiles. Material sourcing is untraceable.
Miniso does not publish any data regarding its environmental footprint, including water usage, carbon emissions, or chemical management. Given its reliance on factories in China and its global shipping network delivering millions of products, its greenhouse gas emissions are likely substantial. The production of plastic goods is also incredibly resource-intensive.
The brand has no take-back, repair, or recycling programs. Its products are low-quality and designed for short-term use, directly contributing to landfill and plastic waste. The minimalist plastic packaging adds to its significant plastic footprint, and there is no information on how the company manages surplus inventory or production waste.
Miniso has not announced any climate targets, sustainability goals, or commitments to reduce its environmental impact. It holds no environmental certifications like B Corp or Climate Neutral, indicating that sustainability is not a strategic priority for the business.
Miniso’s business model is fundamentally at odds with conscious consumerism. Its foundation of rapid turnover of cheap, disposable goods, combined with a stark lack of transparency, makes it a poor choice for ethically-minded shoppers.
Miniso earns a D+ due to its profound lack of transparency. Without a supplier list, wage data, or third-party audits, there is no way to confirm that its workers are treated or paid fairly. While there have been no major scandals, opacity in today's market is a significant ethical failure that prevents accountability.
Miniso receives a D for sustainability because its entire business model is built on creating disposable plastic-based products. The brand has no apparent sustainability strategy, no climate goals, no circularity programs, and its reliance on virgin synthetics makes its environmental impact unequivocally negative.
If you're looking for affordable lifestyle goods, accessories, and basics from brands with a genuine commitment to people and the planet, here are some far better alternatives.
Famed for its super-soft organic cotton apparel, bedding, and towels, Pact is a Certified B Corp that uses Fair Trade Certified factories. Its focus on affordable basics ($20-$60) makes it a great direct alternative for everyday essentials built ethically.
Shop now at wearpact.com
Another B Corp, Tentree offers sustainable casualwear, activewear, and accessories using materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, and TENCEL™. For every item purchased, the brand plants 10 trees and is transparent about its factory partners and climate impact.
Shop now at tentree.com
Offering minimalist wardrobe staples and accessories, Everlane champions "Radical Transparency" by revealing the costs and factory locations behind its products. While not perfect, it makes a concerted effort to use sustainable materials like recycled fabrics and pays fairer wages than typical fast-fashion alternatives.
Shop now at everlane.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is a dedicated Fair Trade brand ensuring garment workers are paid a living wage. They exclusively use sustainable and biodegradable materials like organic cotton and TENCEL™, creating timeless pieces that are kind to the earth.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
While known for outdoor gear, Patagonia also offers high-quality bags, hats, and accessories that are built to last a lifetime. As a B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, its commitment to fair labor, environmental activism, and lifetime repairs is unmatched.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Miniso is a Chinese-owned company that was co-founded by a Chinese entrepreneur. It markets itself as a "Japanese-inspired lifestyle brand" to leverage Japan's reputation for quality design, but its headquarters, operations, and manufacturing are predominantly based in China.
While there haven't been widespread recalls or major safety scandals, Miniso's complete lack of transparency about its materials and production processes is concerning. Without information on chemical use or material safety standards, particularly for items like cosmetics and food containers, it's difficult to verify their safety with certainty.
Miniso’s prices are extremely low due to its business model of mass-producing items in countries with low labor costs, using inexpensive raw materials (primarily plastics), and focusing on high sales volume with slim profit margins per item. This model prioritizes quantity and speed over quality and ethical oversight.
