Labour Lens

Harney & Sons

Lacks transparency

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

Tea

Partly verified: what this means

Based on what Harney & Sons publishes, with few independent checks. Researched with AI assistance against published rules. Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources · How we check

Family-owned US tea blender selling over 300 teas.

Harney & Sons can't show that the people who grow its tea in India earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.

Also worth knowing

It has no full independent audit.

Better-graded tea

Graded higher than Harney & Sons, selling the same kinds of things.

Trade AidHolds WFTO Guaranteed Fair Trade and publishes its suppliers.Fair trade tea, coffee, chocolateGoodGoes Above and Beyond: Gives workers a real voice; Open supply chain; Finds and fixes problems, or invests in communities5 starsDaintree TeaMakes its products in its own factories in Australia, where legal wages are close to a living wage.Australian-grown unblended black teaGoodGoes Above and Beyond: Open supply chain3 starsNumi Organic TeaHolds Fairtrade certification.Organic and fair trade teasGoodGoes Above and Beyond: Finds and fixes problems, or invests in communities3 stars

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Why it's graded Lacks transparency

Meets 1 of 5 Good requirements, with 2 red flags.Open why it has this gradeClose why it has this grade
  • Not met: Meets 1 of 5 Good requirements.
  • Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and a hidden, unaudited supply chain 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.

How grades are decided

Good requirements 1 of 5

  • Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
  • Not met: Respects worker rightsMost of its tea is grown in India, China and Indonesia, 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

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

Estimates for its products

Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Harney & Sons's evidence and, where it has product lines, that line's countries. They're estimates: we don't know which factory made any single item.

  • A product carrying the Fairtrade mark: Good

Holding one? Scan its barcode for an estimate that uses its care label or ingredients.

Where its tea is grown

India, China, Taiwan and 5 more countries.Open where it's madeClose where it's made

Harney & Sons names some of the countries its tea comes from: China, India, Taiwan and Japan. The rest is shown as where tea is usually grown.

Where its tea is grown, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
IndiaNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageHigh
ChinaNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
TaiwanStrong protectionsClose to a living wageLow
JapanStrong protectionsClose to a living wageLow
KenyaUsual for the industrySystematic violationsWell below a living wageModerate
Sri LankaUsual for the industrySystematic violationsWell below a living wageModerate
MalawiUsual for the industryStrong protectionsFar below a living wageModerate
IndonesiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageModerate

Evidence

1 thing we found and what 3 independent sources say.Open the evidenceClose the evidence

What we found

  • Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: tea estate wages in Assam, Sri Lanka and Kenya are among the lowest of any export crop, often paid partly in kind (housing, rations).

Research notes Harney & Sons says its teas come from tea regions around the world, naming China, India, Taiwan and Japan, but it does not publish origin shares, a list of tea estates or a modern slavery statement. About 22 of its more than 300 teas are Fair Trade USA certified, including teas from the Korakundah estate in India and an organic tea farmers' association in China whose premiums fund schooling and a workers' pension fund. It has no published code of conduct, audit programme or wage commitment for the rest of its supply chain. No labour abuses linked to its suppliers have been reported. Origin shares are not disclosed.

What independent sources say

SourceResultDetails
Fairtrade (incl. FLOCERT and Fairtrade ANZ)CertifiedAround 22 of its 300-plus teas are Fair Trade USA certified; most of the range is not. View
Australian Modern Slavery RegisterNot assessedPrivately held US tea company below the size threshold for Australian modern slavery reporting. View
Business & Human Rights Resource CentreNot listedNo labour rights allegations against Harney & Sons are recorded. View

Sources and actions

5 sources, company details, and how to send evidence or a right of reply.Open the sources and company detailsClose the sources and company details

Sources 5

Show all 5 sources

Published by Harney & Sons or its owner

  1. A Passion For Tea (Harney & Sons, about us) · search the archive · Family company founded 1983; over 300 teas; buyers visit China, Taiwan, Japan and India; carries Fair Trade Certified teas
  2. Fair Trade Month (Harney & Sons) · search the archive · Fair Trade USA certified teas from Korakundah (India) and Dazhangshan (China); premiums fund schools and pensions
  3. Fairtrade Teas collection (Harney & Sons) · search the archive · 22 products in its Fair Trade collection
  4. About Harney Fine Teas (Harney Teas Australia) · search the archive · Australian online store in AUD; English Breakfast blends Indian and Chinese black teas; not sold in supermarkets
  5. Harney Teas Australia · search the archive · Active Australian online storefront with AUD pricing (2026)

Company details

Headquarters
United States
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Harney & Sons ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/harney-and-sons, 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 Harney & Sons.

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