Braun
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 6 sources
P&G-owned German brand selling shavers, trimmers and epilators.
There's no proof Braun 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 2 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 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 India, 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 confirmed child or forced labour findings or linksAn unconfirmed report of forced and child labour is listed below. It doesn't affect the grade.
- 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
Braun says it makes products in Germany. Product labels show China. 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 |
| Germany | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| 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 |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| MalaysiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below 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 Braun builds premium shavers such as the Series 9 in its own plant in Walldurn, Germany, but its manuals for beard trimmers and grooming kits give China as the country of origin, and it publishes no production shares or supplier list. Braun kitchen appliances are made by De'Longhi under licence, which does not say where. Parent P&G audits high-risk suppliers but publishes no Braun-specific findings and has no supplier living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Procter & Gamble Australia Pty Ltd lodges modern slavery statements; the FY2023 statement covers the group's 104 manufacturing sites and announced SMETA audits of high-risk suppliers but does not mention Braun or report audit findings. View |
Unconfirmed reports
Credible reports that haven't been confirmed by a regulator, completed investigation or the company. They're shown for your information and don't affect the grade.
- Amnesty International (2016) found child labour, forced labour and below-minimum pay on Indonesian palm oil plantations supplying Wilmar, naming parent Procter & Gamble as a buyer; this concerns P&G's palm oil, not Braun appliances. Source
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Amnesty International: Palm oil - global brands profiting from child and forced labour (2016) · search the archive · P&G named as buyer of Wilmar palm oil linked to child and forced labour in Indonesia.
- Warum Braun mehr als nur ein Hersteller sein will (Business Punk) · search the archive · Braun develops in Kronberg and manufactures in Walldurn, Germany.
- Braun Series 9 product page (Galaxus) · search the archive · Series 9 shaver listed as made in Germany.
- Braun MGK7021 multi grooming kit manual (ManualsLib) · search the archive · P&G-authorised Braun manual states: Country of origin: China.
- Braun (company) - Wikipedia · search the archive · Braun is a P&G subsidiary based in Kronberg; De'Longhi bought the kitchen appliance line in 2012 and uses the Braun name under licence.
Published by Braun or its owner
- Procter & Gamble Australia Modern Slavery Statement FY2023 · search the archive · 104 group manufacturing sites; announced SMETA audits of high-risk suppliers; no findings published; Braun not mentioned.
Company details
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Braun ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/braun, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
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