de Buyer
On Track. Pays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 6 sources
French cookware maker known for carbon steel and copper pans.
de Buyer makes its carbon steel and copper cookware in its own factories in France, where legal wages are about a living wage.
Also worth knowing
It publishes a modern slavery statement.
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Why it's graded On Track
- Not met: Meets 5 of 7 Good requirements.
- Met: No red flags.
Good requirements 5 of 7
- Met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: presumed because legal wages in France are about a living wage, not checked at the company
- Met: Respects worker rights
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Not met: Shows where its earlier production stages happen, not just the final oneA "Made in" claim can cover only the final stage. Earlier stages to show: materials and parts such as fabric, timber, glass, metal and ceramics
- 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 (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 0
None found.
| Star | Awarded for |
|---|---|
| Open supply chain |
Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From de Buyer's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
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.
- Owns or runs its own production
- Modern slavery statement
- "Made in France" only means the last major stage happened there: under customs and consumer law, materials and parts such as fabric, timber, glass, metal and ceramics can be made elsewhere. It hasn't shown where those earlier stages happen, so where it's made counts towards On Track but not Good. Source
Research notes de Buyer makes its carbon steel and copper cookware in its own factory at Le Val-d'Ajol, France, which holds the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label, and La Brigade de Buyer runs three French production sites with about 290 staff. de Buyer says all but a few products are made in France but does not name where the rest are made. Neither de Buyer nor its owner Groupe SEB publishes de Buyer supplier lists, audit results or a wage commitment, and no labour abuse reports involving the brand were found.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Groupe SEB UK Limited is listed on the UK modern slavery statement registry, but its 2020 statement did not describe its supply chain, risks or audits. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Baptist World Aid's reports cover fashion and electronics, not cookware brands. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- de Buyer (Marques de France) · search the archive · Factory at Le Val-d'Ajol, Vosges; Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant; product origin mixed, made in France and abroad
- Groupe SEB acquires La Brigade de Buyer (Business Wire, January 2025) · search the archive · SEB buying La Brigade de Buyer from Edify (owner since 2015); 290 employees; three production sites in France
- de Buyer Force Blue Steel Crepe Pan (Kitchen Warehouse) · search the archive · de Buyer pans sold by Kitchen Warehouse in Australia with click and collect
Published by de Buyer or its owner
- About us (de Buyer USA) · search the archive · Utensils designed and made in its factory in France since 1830; carbon steel and copper carry a Made in France guarantee
- FAQ: Are de Buyer products made in France? (de Buyer USA) · search the archive · Besides a few exceptions, all products made in France in its own Vosges factory; other countries not named
- Groupe SEB UK modern slavery statement summary · search the archive · Groupe SEB UK Limited statement on UK registry
Company details
- Headquarters
- France
- Employees
- About 290
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is de Buyer ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/de-buyer, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What On Track 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 de Buyer.