Ecology

Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources

Victorian homewares brand designing dinnerware, mugs and vases.

There's no proof Ecology pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.

Better-graded cookware and tableware

Graded higher than Ecology, selling the same kinds of things.

Mud AustraliaHomewares, furniture & appliancesHandmade porcelain tablewareMakes its products in its own factories in Australia, where legal wages are close to a living wage.GoodPartly verified Bormioli RoccoHomewares, furniture & appliancesItalian glass tableware and storage jarsMakes its products in its own factories in Italy, where legal wages are close to a living wage.GoodGoes Above and Beyond RosenthalMissing: where its earlier stages happen · Homewares, furniture & appliancesGerman porcelain dinnerware and giftsPays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.On TrackPartly verified

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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 a hidden, unaudited supply chain 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.

How grades are decided

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 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 (timber) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeOnly in a few products: timber

Red flags 2

Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Red flag: Hidden supply chain, mostly in countries with poor worker rights

Stars it would earn as Good

None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars

Where it's made

From product labels; Ecology doesn't say where its products are made. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.

Where it's made, and conditions there
Country	Worker rights	Legal minimum wage	Forced labour risk
China	No guarantee of rights	Below a living wage	Moderate
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

Uses timber in only a few products, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good. It doesn't show where its timber comes from. The "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.

Research notes Ecology designs its tableware in Australia and has it made overseas; retailer listings for its stoneware ranges state they are made in China, but the brand does not name its factories, publish a supplier list or describe any audits, supplier code or wage policy. It also sells a few wooden serving boards, with no timber origin or certification disclosed. No labour abuse findings about the brand were found.

What independent sources say

Source	Result	Details
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report	Not covered	Baptist World Aid's reports cover fashion and electronics, not tableware brands. View
Australian Modern Slavery Register	Unclear	No modern slavery statement naming Ecology or its operating company was found on the Australian register. View
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre	Not listed	No reports about Ecology or its suppliers are recorded. View

Sources and actions

Sources 4

Show all 4 sources

Ecology Ottawa 12 Piece Dinner Set Calico (Minimax) · search the archive · Ecology founded 2008, based in Victoria; stoneware set 'Designed in Australia', 'Made in China'
Valerie Graham appointed distributor of ECOLOGY (Housewares Live, 2019) · search the archive · Australian brand launched 2008; bone china, porcelain, stoneware, vases, mugs and wooden boards
Ecology Stoneware Ottawa Rustic Salt Cellar (Harvey Norman) · search the archive · Ecology tableware sold by Harvey Norman in Australia
Ecology 6pk Ritual porcelain pinch dish set (Kmart) · search the archive · Ecology porcelain sold through Kmart's online marketplace

Company details

Headquarters: Australia
Last researched: 3 November 2026
Cite this page: Labour Lens, "Is Ecology ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/ecology, 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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