BISSELL
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
Family-owned US company making vacuums and carpet and floor cleaners.
There's no proof BISSELL pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it doesn't name the factories its amfori BSCI audits cover.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production 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 2 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
- Met: High-risk raw materials (such as timber and cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNone recorded in a major share of its range
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
BISSELL names some of the countries it makes in: China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Mexico. 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 |
| Vietnam | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Malaysia | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Cambodia | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Mexico | Regular violations | 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 |
Evidence
What we found
- No high-risk raw materials (such as timber and cotton) are recorded in a major share of its range, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good.
- Modern slavery statement
Research notes BISSELL's 2025 modern slavery statements (Australia; Canada, May 2026) say its products are made in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Mexico, and its cleaning formulas in the US, UK and China; it does not say whether factories are owned or contracted, give shares or publish a supplier list. It reports over 20 supplier audits a year to SEDEX/SMETA 4-Pillar standards at major suppliers, but publishes no audit results. Its code asks suppliers only to pay legal wages, and there is no living wage commitment. No labour abuses at its suppliers have been reported.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | BISSELL International Trading Company B.V. and BISSELL Australia publish a joint statement for 2025; it names production countries and SMETA audits but reports no findings. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Not assessed in Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion or Electronics reports; its Good Shopping Guide rates Bissell Australia C- overall (updated July 2026). View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Bissell Australia - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · Overall rating C- (updated July 2026); no supplier labour findings listed
- BISSELL SpotClean Carpet Cleaner - The Good Guys · search the archive · BISSELL products are sold by The Good Guys, an Australian appliance chain with physical stores
- BISSELL launches PowerClean DualBrush vacuum in Oceania (FutureFive, April 2026) · search the archive · Family-owned brand sold through electrical retailers in Australia and New Zealand
Published by BISSELL or its owner
- BISSELL International Trading Company B.V. and BISSELL Australia - Modern Slavery Statement 2025 · search the archive · Made in Cambodia, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Mexico, Indonesia; formulas in US, UK, China; SMETA audits; legal wages only; no findings
- BISSELL Canada Slavery Act report (FY2025, approved May 2026) · search the archive · Same six production countries; 20+ supplier audits a year incl. SMETA; legal wages only; no forced or child labour findings
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is BISSELL ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/bissell, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
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Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent BISSELL.