Brabantia
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
Dutch homewares company selling bins, laundry and kitchen products.
There's no proof Brabantia pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- 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 3 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsSome of its products are made in China, 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
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listMakes its products in its own factories
- Met: High-risk raw materials (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeOnly in a few products: cotton
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made partly 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
From Brabantia's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| Latvia | Strong protections | Not rated | Low |
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Uses cotton in only a few products, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good. It doesn't show where its cotton comes from. The "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
- Owns or runs its own production
Research notes Brabantia makes its products in its own factories in Belgium, Latvia and China; it publishes no production shares or list of outside suppliers. It is a certified B Corp and about 77% of its range is Cradle to Cradle certified, but it publishes no social audit results, modern slavery statement or living wage commitment. Cotton is used only in ironing board covers and textiles; since 2025 all ironing board covers use Fairtrade cotton from a Pakistani farmer co-operative. No labour abuses have been reported.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| B Corp directory | Certified | Certified B Corp since February 2023 with an overall score of 83.4, including 20.8 for workers. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion and Electronics reports do not assess homewares brands like Brabantia. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- brabantia europe - B Corp directory · search the archive · Certified B Corp since Feb 2023, score 83.4, workers 20.8
- Brabantia brand spotlight - Soko & Co · search the archive · Authorised Australian stockist with three showrooms in Western Australia
Published by Brabantia or its owner
- Brabantia - Production · search the archive · Factories in Belgium, China and Latvia; Cradle to Cradle certification of self-produced products
- Brabantia Impact Report 2023 · search the archive · 1,075 staff; Latvia and China production units; Better Cotton member; Fairtrade ironing board cover
- Brabantia results 2025 · search the archive · Family business; since 2025 all ironing board covers use 100% Fairtrade cotton from Pakistan; about 77% of range Cradle to Cradle certified
Company details
- Headquarters
- Netherlands
- Employees
- About 1,075
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Brabantia ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/brabantia, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded cookware and tableware
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Brabantia.