Bang & Olufsen
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources
Danish luxury audio company making speakers, headphones and TVs.
Until Bang & Olufsen traces its cobalt, gold and tin to the mine, it can't show that the miners who dig them are safe or fairly paid.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace. That alone means a poor grade until it takes steps to trace them.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in China, Vietnam and Malaysia.
- Met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Not met: Traces its cobalt, gold and other conflict minerals to the mine
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace
- Red flag: Fails its category's raw-material check (means Lacks transparency)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Bang & Olufsen names some of the countries it makes in: Denmark. The rest is shown as where electronics are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Denmark | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| TaiwanUsual for the industry | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| MalaysiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| South KoreaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Close to a living wage | Low |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: cobalt, tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold mining carry child and forced labour risk (DR Congo, Indonesia), and assembly overtime is widespread.
- Modern slavery statement
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Relies on metals such as cobalt, gold and tin from artisanal mines where miners, including children, face toxic dust, mercury exposure and deadly tunnel collapses. It hasn't shown any steps to trace these materials to the mine, so it's graded Lacks transparency until it does.
Research notes Bang & Olufsen makes aluminium parts and some premium products at its own factory in Struer, Denmark, but does not name the countries that make its other products or name its suppliers. Independent auditors check suppliers covering over 95% of supplier spend at least every two years, with no critical issues reported in 2025/26. Its supplier code requires a living wage, but it publishes no evidence that wages meet this. Denmark is the only country named, so no share is given.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Publishes an annual Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement; the 2026 statement reports no critical non-compliance in 2025/26 supplier audits. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 4
Show all 4 sources
- Bang and Olufsen sustainability (Trusted Reviews) · search the archive · High-risk suppliers get independent on-site audits; no claim suppliers pay a living wage
Published by Bang & Olufsen or its owner
- Bang & Olufsen Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement 2026 · search the archive · Suppliers covering over 95% of spend audited every second year; no critical non-compliance in 2025/26
- Bang & Olufsen Supplier Code of Conduct v6.0 (2025) · search the archive · Requires suppliers to pay a living wage, 48-hour week; allows unannounced third-party audits
- Bang & Olufsen Annual Report 2025/26 · search the archive · 1,180 FTE; Beosound Premiere made at Factory 5 in Struer; components from global suppliers
Company details
- Headquarters
- Denmark
- Employees
- About 1,180
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Bang & Olufsen ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/bang-and-olufsen, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Bang & Olufsen.