ECM
On Track. Pays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources
German maker of home and commercial espresso machines and grinders.
ECM makes about 50% of its espresso machines and grinders in its own factories in Italy and 50% in Germany, where labour laws are strong and legal wages are close to a living wage.
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Why it's graded On Track
- Not met: Meets 6 of 7 Good requirements.
- Met: No red flags.
Good requirements 6 of 7
- Met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: presumed because legal wages in Italy and Germany are close to a living wage, not checked at the company
- Met: Respects worker rights
- Met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standardsPresumed from where it's made, not audited
- 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
ECM makes its products in two countries, 50% in each.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 50% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Germany | 50% | Strong protections | 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
- "Made in Italy and Germany" 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 ECM makes its machines in its own workshops: Puristika and Classika PID single boilers and heat-exchanger home models in Milan, Italy, and the Casa, Synchronika, commercial machines and grinders near Heidelberg, Germany. No country shares are published, so each of its two sites counts as half. Its social responsibility page speaks of respect for staff and suppliers and a children's charity in Nepal, but it publishes no supplier list, audits, modern slavery statement or wage policy, or where components come from.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Not covered | ECM is a small private German company with no Australian entity, so it is not required to report under Australia's Modern Slavery Act. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Baptist World Aid does not rate appliance makers. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No labour allegations against ECM or its suppliers have been recorded. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Coffee machines Sydney (Jetblack Espresso) · search the archive · ECM and Profitec demonstrated in-store at a Frenchs Forest, Sydney showroom.
Published by ECM or its owner
- ECM: the company · search the archive · Founded by Wolfgang Hauck; single-boiler and heat-exchanger models made in Italy, Synchronika, commercial machines and grinders in Germany.
- ECM: handmade in Germany · search the archive · Own production near Heidelberg makes the Casa, Synchronika, commercial line and all grinders.
- ECM: handmade in Italy · search the archive · Own facility north-east of Milan makes the Puristika and Classika PID single boilers and Home Line heat-exchanger models.
- ECM: about us · search the archive · Since 2007 machines made at ECM's own production facility in Milan; Profitec described as sister company.
- ECM: 30 years · search the archive · Family-owned, led by Michael Hauck; own production facilities in Germany and Italy.
- ECM: social responsibility · search the archive · General statements on respect for employees and suppliers; ECM RISE charity in Nepal; no audits or supplier details.
Company details
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is ECM ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/ecm, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What On Track means
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