By Johanna Gardener •
Updated: 28 Nov 2024 • 13:32 • 2 minutes read
Temu and other Chinese online retailers are becoming popular in Finland but evade responsibility
Credit:Shutterstock:Shutterstock.AI
Authorities and lawmakers in Finland are increasingly concerned regarding the rising popularity of Chinese online retail giants.
Not only this, but many are neglecting safety standards and statutory obligations which puts customers at risk. According to data from Finnish Customs, it was discovered that the number of shipments from online retailers from outside of the 27-country EU bloc had grown by six times since last year from four million in 2023 to 25 million so far in 2024. This is especially the case with regards to low-cost items below €150 where purchases from afar represent 87 per cent of buys.
Exponential buying from Chinese retailers which neglect statutory rules
The Pirkanmaa ELY Centre stressed the problems related to Chinese retailers, especially with regards to the safety and sustainability of products. Statutory obligations include the proper disposal of products, free recyclability for customers of the product and the ability to recover the raw materials at the end of the product’s life cycle. However, the majority of overseas online retailers have neglected these responsibilities. Tiina Vermaete, a senior officer at the Pirkanmaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) said: “Chinese online giants have rapidly expanded their footprint in the EU. Simultaneously many of them are neglecting their important, statutory obligations.” Effectively, others are left to foot the bill for proper waste disposal. Vermaete highlighted the importance of making responsible choices as consumers because it is becoming impossible to track non-compliant companies.
Temu: most popular online store among the over 50-year-olds in Finland
Temu, a Chinese low-coat, ultra-fast online retailer offering everything and anything is now the most popular online store in rural Finland according to a survey by Postnord (Nordic postal service). Around a third of rural residents have placed an order on the platform in the last three months. It also stood out as the most popular online store among the over 50-year-olds in the country. The company was recently under scrutiny and faced legal proceedings due to suspicion of counterfeit products and aggressive sales tactics.
There are plans for further investigation into platforms like Temu and Shein for their environmental implications. Being outside of EU regulations, these retailers were found to contain excessive amounts of toxins, especially Shein the highest emitting company in the fashion industry.
Solutions to avoid irresponsible purchases from overseas retailers
To combat this issue, several ideas have been laid on the table. One idea would be to impose higher taxes on ultra-fast fashion and ultra-cheap goods under the guise of promoting of responsible consumption. On the other side of the coin, cutting VAT on second-hand products and reusable commodities may be a good deterrent.
For consumers, advice is to not impulse-buy and to be aware of the consequences of bargain, ultra-fast products. Dirt cheap prices often come with layers of underhand practices and you may be contributing to a wider global problem.
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Written by
Johanna Gardener
Originally from Manchester, UK and with a degree in English with Modern Foreign Languages, she has been a permanent resident in Spain for the past 12 years. Many of these years, she has spent working as a secondary school teacher, as well as in journalism, editing and marketing. She currently lives in the historic centre of Malaga, where she enjoys writing, walking and animals.
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