Gardena
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
German garden brand selling hoses, irrigation and garden tools.
We couldn't confirm where it makes the rest, and most homewares and appliances are made in countries such as China and Vietnam, where the legal minimum is below a living wage.
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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.
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 (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: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From press and retailer reports; Gardena doesn't say where its products are made. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Czechia | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| Germany | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| 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
- 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.
- Modern slavery statement
- Makes part of its range in its own factories
Research notes Gardena makes part of its range in its own plants in Germany (Ulm, Niederstotzingen, Heuchlingen) and the Czech Republic, and in June 2026 said it would cut 250 German jobs by 2028 and move much of that work to its Czech plants; parent Husqvarna Group also buys parts and finished products from outside suppliers, and no Gardena production shares or factory list are published. The group screens high-risk suppliers through EcoVadis (96 in 2025) but reports no audit findings, cases or living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Covered by Husqvarna Australia's 2025 statement, which names the Gardena Division and reports EcoVadis checks of 96 high-risk suppliers, but no factory countries, audit results or cases. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Covered by Husqvarna's UK Modern Slavery Act statement (2022-2023 edition) describing its supplier code and risk assessments. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Garden equipment is not assessed in Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion or Electronics reports. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Gardena, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Germany (Eurofound European Restructuring Monitor, 2026) · search the archive · June 2026: 250 jobs cut at Ulm, Niederstotzingen and Heuchlingen; much of the work moves to Gardena's Czech production facilities
- Schwäbische Zeitung: Beim Gartenspezialisten Gardena läuft es nicht (4 Feb 2026) · search the archive · Ulm-based Gardena, owned by Husqvarna since 2007, has German sites in Ulm, Heuchlingen, Niederstotzingen and Laichingen; 3,110 staff worldwide
- Gardena Basic Hose Set - Bunnings Warehouse · search the archive · Gardena products sold at Bunnings in Australia
- E15: Husqvarna rozšíří výrobu, ve Vrbně začne montovat robotické sekačky (8 Sep 2016) · search the archive · Husqvarna's Vrbno pod Pradědem plant (CZ) makes robotic mowers for Husqvarna, Gardena and McCulloch
Published by Gardena or its owner
- Husqvarna Australia Modern Slavery Statement 2025 · search the archive · Gardena Division named; 96 high-risk suppliers assessed via EcoVadis in 2025; no cases; no living wage commitment
- Husqvarna California Transparency in Supply Chains Act report FY2024 · search the archive · 116 EcoVadis assessments in 2024, 45 below threshold and put on corrective action
- Global Presence - Husqvarna Group · search the archive · About 30 production sites in 13 countries
Company details
- Owned by
- Husqvarna AB (Sweden)
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Employees
- About 3,000
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Gardena ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/gardena, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded appliances
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Gardena.