Labour Lens

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.

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 (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.

Where it's made, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
ChinaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
CzechiaStrong protectionsClose to a living wageModerate
GermanyStrong protectionsAbout 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.
  • 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

SourceResultDetails
Australian Modern Slavery RegisterListedCovered 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 RegistryListedCovered by Husqvarna's UK Modern Slavery Act statement (2022-2023 edition) describing its supplier code and risk assessments. View
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion ReportNot coveredGarden equipment is not assessed in Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion or Electronics reports. View

Sources and actions

Sources 7

Show all 7 sources
  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. Gardena Basic Hose Set - Bunnings Warehouse · search the archive · Gardena products sold at Bunnings in Australia
  4. 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

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. Global Presence - Husqvarna Group · search the archive · About 30 production sites in 13 countries

Company details

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

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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.