Labour Lens

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

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 8 sources

US cookware brand made and sold by Meyer.

There's no proof Farberware pays more than the legal minimum, which in China and Thailand 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.

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 Thailand, 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 (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: 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

These are its parent group's countries across all its brands; Farberware doesn't say where its own products are made. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.

Where it's made, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
ChinaNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
ItalyStrong protectionsClose to a living wageLow
ThailandNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
United StatesSystematic violationsBelow a living wageLow
VietnamUsual for the industrySystematic violationsWell below a living wageModerate
IndiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageHigh
PolandUsual for the industryRegular violationsClose to a living wageModerate
IndonesiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageModerate
MalaysiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate

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.

Research notes Farberware cookware has been made outside the US since Meyer took over the cookware licence in 1996-97. Meyer says it runs its own cookware factories in China, Thailand, Italy and the US, but does not say which make Farberware; a retailer lists Thailand as the origin of one Farberware pan, and other sources name China and Indonesia. No factory list, supplier code, audit results or modern slavery statement covers Farberware. A 2000 China Labor Watch report on a factory making Farberware can openers is too old to count.

What independent sources say

SourceResultDetails
Australian Modern Slavery RegisterNot listedNo Farberware or Meyer cookware statement appears on the Australian Modern Slavery Register. View
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion ReportNot coveredBaptist World Aid's reports do not cover cookware makers. View

Sources and actions

Sources 8

Show all 8 sources
  1. Farberware can opener factory report (China Labor Watch, 2000) · search the archive · 1999-2000 report on long hours and low pay at a Shenzhen contractor making Farberware can openers
  2. About Meyer - FAQs · search the archive · Meyer runs its own factories in China, Italy, Thailand and the US
  3. Farberware ownership (Worse on Purpose ledger) · search the archive · Farberware Licensing is a Meyer and Lifetime Brands partnership; lists China and Indonesia as places of manufacture
  4. Farberware Vibrance ceramic saucepan (FairPrice Singapore) · search the archive · Country of origin listed as Thailand
  5. Farberware Classic saucepan prices (BuyWisely) · search the archive · Farberware cookware sold to Australians via Amazon.com.au and Ubuy Australia
  6. Farberware (Wikipedia) · search the archive · Meyer acquired Farberware cookware in 1996
  7. Meyer Manufacturing (Wikipedia) · search the archive · Hong Kong-based Meyer owns Farberware cookware

Published by Farberware or its owner

  1. Farberware Cookware: Our story · search the archive · Farberware moved production to the Bronx in 1944 and was acquired by Meyer in 1996

Company details

Headquarters
United States
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Farberware ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/farberware, 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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Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Farberware.