Habitat
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources
British furniture and homewares brand founded by Terence Conran.
There's no proof Habitat pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage.
Better-graded furniture
Graded higher than Habitat, selling the same kinds of things.
None of the furniture brands we know to make furniture is Good yet. These are the strongest so far. Le Klint is Good, but we don't know that it makes furniture.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Habitat? Send a right of reply.
Compare Habitat with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 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 3 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in China, India and Vietnam.
- 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 (cotton, leather and timber) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeTraced or certified: timber. Only in a few products: cotton and leather
Red flags 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
These are J Sainsbury's countries across all its brands; Habitat doesn't say where its own products are made. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PolandUsual for the industry | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| Bangladesh | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Cambodia | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| 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
- Passes the raw-material check for homewares and appliances: traces or certifies its timber.
- Modern slavery statement
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Uses cotton and leather in only a few products and doesn't show where they come from. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of them traced, certified or upcycled.
- Traces or certifies most but not all of its timber. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes Habitat's products are made by outside suppliers under Sainsbury's general merchandise programme, which requires annual SMETA audits of supplier sites. Sainsbury's does not say where Habitat products are made; its top countries for general merchandise and clothing combined are China, Bangladesh, India, Türkiye and Cambodia. The group reports 99% of its timber meets an independent sustainability standard, but publishes no Habitat factory list, audit results or living wage commitment. Habitat delivers only within the UK.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Covered by Sainsbury's 2025/26 modern slavery statement, which includes Argos and Habitat own-brand general merchandise and requires annual SMETA audits at these sites. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion Report (2026) and Electronics reports do not assess furniture brands like Habitat. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 4
Show all 4 sources
- Sainsbury's agrees sale of Argos to Swift Partners (2026) · search the archive · Announced 31 July 2026, completion February 2027; Habitat is not part of the sale and Sainsbury's keeps selling it
Published by Habitat or its owner
- Sainsbury's Modern Slavery Statement 2025/26 · search the archive · Covers Habitat; top GM and clothing countries China, Bangladesh, India, Türkiye, Cambodia; annual SMETA; 99% timber certified (group)
- Habitat delivery FAQs · search the archive · Delivers to mainland UK, Northern Ireland, islands and Channel Islands only; no other countries
- Habitat UK homepage · search the archive · Range of furniture, sofas, bedding and soft furnishings; leather limited to a few chairs
Company details
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Habitat ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/habitat, 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 Habitat.