B&B Italia
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources
Italian furniture company known for sofas such as Camaleonda.
B&B Italia can't show that the workers who make its products in Indonesia and the Philippines earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
Also worth knowing
It has no full independent audit.
Better-graded furniture
Graded higher than B&B Italia, selling the same kinds of things.
None of the furniture brands we know to make furniture is Good yet. These are the strongest so far. Le Klint is Good, but we don't know that it makes furniture.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent B&B Italia? Send a right of reply.
Compare B&B Italia with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and a hidden, unaudited supply chain in high-risk countries. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- 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 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsMost of its products are made in countries such as China and Indonesia, where unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not 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: High-risk raw materials (leather and timber) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: timber
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain, mostly in countries with poor worker rights
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
B&B Italia names some of the countries it makes in: Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Indonesia, Italy and the Philippines. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Regular violations | Not rated | High |
| Italy | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Philippines | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| PolandUsual for the industry | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| MalaysiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Doesn't show where its timber comes from. Timber is linked to illegal logging linked to forced labour, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.
- Uses leather in only a few products and traces or certifies most of it. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes B&B Italia makes upholstered furniture at Novedrate, Maxalto wooden pieces at Misinto and Arclinea kitchens at Caldogno, all in Italy, with contractors assembling some pieces. Its outdoor range is mainly made by suppliers in Bosnia, Indonesia, China and the Philippines, and some parts such as chair legs come from China; no shares are given. Over 90% of suppliers are Italian, and leather comes from the Arzignano tanning district. Suppliers must accept its code of ethics and get quality visits, but no social audits, supplier list or living wage commitment are disclosed. About 80% of Arclinea's wood is FSC Mix; no share is given for B&B Italia furniture.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion Report (latest edition 2026) does not assess furniture makers, and its Electronics Industry Report ended in 2016. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Not covered | No Australian modern slavery statement; B&B Italia sells here through the independent retailer Space Furniture. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 4
Show all 4 sources
- Flos B&B Italia Group to sell brands one by one (Interior Daily) · search the archive · Group formed as Design Holding in 2018 by Investindustrial and Carlyle; B&B Italia is a group brand; group plans to sell brands one by one
- Louis Poulsen acquired in reported 470 million euro deal (inside.lighting, 2026) · search the archive · Flos B&B Italia Group is jointly owned by Investindustrial and Carlyle (June 2026)
- The world's first B&B Italia Outdoor showroom launches in Sydney (Space Furniture) · search the archive · Space Furniture sells B&B Italia in Australian showrooms, including a Sydney outdoor store opened in 2025
Published by B&B Italia or its owner
- B&B Italia Sustainability Report 2024 · search the archive · Italian plants; outdoor made mainly in Bosnia, Indonesia, China, Philippines; leather from Arzignano; 695 FTE; Arclinea wood 80% FSC Mix
Company details
- Owned by
- Flos B&B Italia Group (formerly Design Holding; owned by Investindustrial and The Carlyle Group)
- Headquarters
- Italy
- Employees
- About 695
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is B&B Italia ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/bb-italia, 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 B&B Italia.
