Kensington
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 1 November 2026 · 9 sources
US brand of laptop locks, docks, mice and keyboards owned by ACCO Brands.
There's no proof Kensington pays more than the legal minimum, which in China 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 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production 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.
Good requirements 1 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 Malaysia, 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
- Not met: Traces its cobalt, gold and other conflict minerals to the mine
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 product labels; Kensington doesn't say where its products are made. The rest is shown as where electronics are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| TaiwanUsual for the industry | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| MalaysiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| South KoreaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Close to a living wage | Low |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: cobalt, tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold mining carry child and forced labour risk (DR Congo, Indonesia), and assembly overtime is widespread.
- Modern slavery statement
- Publishes its mineral smelter list and uses independently audited smelters (RMAP) for tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold
- It publishes its smelters or uses some recycled or responsibly mined metals, but can't yet trace its cobalt and gold to the mine.
Research notes Kensington is ACCO Brands' computer and gaming accessories brand. ACCO makes about 40% of its products in its own plants (mostly office products) and sources the rest, primarily from China; it does not say which factories make Kensington products, and countries come from product data sheets and retailer labels (China, Vietnam). ACCO runs risk-based third-party social audits with worker interviews, and its 2025 conflict minerals report found 211 of 351 smelters RMAP conformant but names none and covers no cobalt.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | ACCO Brands Australia, which sells Kensington products here, is covered by ACCO Brands' group modern slavery statement, approved for Australia in June 2026. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | ACCO UK Limited and ACCO Brands Europe approved the group modern slavery statement in June 2026. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 9
Show all 9 sources
- ACCO Brands modern slavery statement 2022 (Australian register) · search the archive · Kensington listed as ACCO's computer and gaming accessories brand; ACCO Brands Australia's risks and actions are the same as the group's
- ACCO Brands Conflict Minerals Report (Exhibit 1.01, Form SD 2026) · search the archive · 2025: computer and gaming accessories in scope; 351 smelters identified, 211 RMAP conformant; RMI member; no smelter names or cobalt
- Kensington Universal 3-in-1 Keyed Laptop Lock data sheet · search the archive · Kensington data sheet gives country of origin as China
- Kensington Lock Key Lock for use with Laptop (RS) · search the archive · Kensington lock country of origin: CN
- Kensington USB docking station (RS Hong Kong) · search the archive · Kensington docking station country of origin: VN
- Kensington Wireless Ergonomic Left Handed Mouse - Officeworks · search the archive · Kensington mouse currently listed for sale at Officeworks Australia ($20)
- Kensington Pro Fit Wired Washable Mouse - Bunnings · search the archive · Kensington products listed by Australian store chain Bunnings
Published by Kensington or its owner
- ACCO Brands - Modern Slavery Act Statement · search the archive · 2025 group statement: ~40% made in own plants, rest sourced primarily from China; risk-based third-party audits with worker interviews; AU and UK approvals 2026
- ACCO Brands written resolution - MSA statement UK-Europe 2026 · search the archive · UK entities approved the group modern slavery statement in June 2026
Company details
- Owned by
- ACCO Brands Corporation
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 1 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Kensington ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/kensington, last researched 1 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded laptops and computers
No laptops and computers brand selling new goods is Good yet. This is the strongest so far. Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Kensington.