Faber-Castell
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
Family-owned German maker of pencils, pens and art materials.
Faber-Castell can't show that the workers who make its products in Indonesia and Colombia earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
Also worth knowing
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 has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production 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.
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 rightsMost of its products are made in countries such as Indonesia and 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 (timber) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeTraced or certified: timber
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
| Star | Awarded for |
|---|---|
| Gives workers a real voice |
Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From Faber-Castell's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Brazil | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Germany | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Colombia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Malaysia | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Peru | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| United States | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
Evidence
What we found
- Passes the raw-material check for homewares and appliances: traces or certifies all of its timber.
- FSC or PEFC certified timber: Forest certification that includes core labour rights for forest workers.
- Owns or runs its own production
- Actively empowers workers (ownership, worker committees, union agreements, training)
- Traces all of its timber to the country of origin or beyond, or buys all of it certified
Research notes Faber-Castell makes its products in its own plants in nine countries: Indonesia, Brazil, Germany, China, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Peru and the USA. Its Austrian highlighter plant was due to close in summer 2026 with production moved to Lima, Peru, and some German lines are moving to Brazil and Peru by 2027. Its Social Charter with IG Metall covers all sites and 81% of production sites have collective agreements, but it reports no audit findings or living wage data. All wood-cased pencils use FSC or PEFC wood.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Baptist World Aid's reports cover clothing and electronics, not stationery or art supplies. 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.
- The global union BWI and IG Metall reported in 2020-2021 that Faber-Castell Peru suspended more than half of the union's members without pay, dismissed 206 mostly unionised workers in July 2020, refused to renew the collective agreement and filed criminal charges against union leaders; no outcome has been reported. Source
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Peruvian unions protest Faber Castell and Artesco in national day of action (BWI) · search the archive · Union members suspended without pay, collective agreement not renewed, charges against union leaders (2020)
- Faber-Castell Global Trade Union Network lives solidarity (BWI) · search the archive · 206 mostly unionised workers dismissed in Peru in July 2020; dispute unresolved
- Thinking in generations: sustainability beyond trends (Faber-Castell, 2026) · search the archive · Feb 2026: own production sites in nine countries; about 6,200 employees
- Faber-Castell accelerates transformation (Oct 2025) · search the archive · Engelhartszell (Austria) plant to close in summer 2026, 41 jobs; production moves to Lima, Peru
- Faber-Castell products at Officeworks · search the archive · Sold at Officeworks stores in Australia
Published by Faber-Castell or its owner
- Faber-Castell Sustainability Report 2022 · search the archive · Production sites in 10 countries; Social Charter with IG Metall; 81% collective agreements; over 90% FSC wood, all pencils FSC or PEFC
- Faber-Castell Sustainability Details 2024/25 · search the archive · 6,637 staff; 100% of sites in Social Charter; 81% of production sites with collective agreements; no audit findings published
Company details
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Employees
- About 6,200
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Faber-Castell ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/faber-castell, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Faber-Castell.