Koskela
VerifiedKoskela is on the right track: its goods are made in Australia, where strong labour laws and decent legal wages apply. What's missing is publishing where its products are made.
Last researched 8 October 2026
Heading in the right direction. Workers are paid enough to live on, or the company is certified as working towards it, and there are no serious warning signs. One piece is still unproven. What this grade means
Good: 4 of 5
- Pays a living wage
- Respects worker rights
- Full supply chain audit, or made only in countries with rigorous labour standards
- No child or forced labour findings
- Publishes where its products are made (supplier list, named farms or its own factories)
Great: 1 of 3
- Pays beyond a living wage
- Finds and fixes problems, or invests directly in workers' communities
- Actively empowers workers
Needs all Good requirements plus two of these.
Red flags: 0
None found.
Where it's made
| Country | Worker rights | Legal wages | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
Country conditions from the ITUC Global Rights Index, Global Slavery Index and living wage benchmarks. Certifications and audits can raise a company above its countries' baseline.
Why this grade
- Timber, cotton textiles and ceramics carry moderate raw-material risk; illegal logging is linked to forced labour in some regions.
- Certified B Corp: Whole-company assessment. Labour is one part of the score, so it is supportive rather than proof.
- Modern slavery statement
- Invests in worker and farming communities
Koskela designs its furniture and lighting in Sydney and has it made by a network of 21 Australian manufacturing partners rather than in a factory of its own, so final assembly happens under Australian employment law. Its voluntary 2025 modern slavery statement notes that some timber, fabrics and metals may come from overseas, and it does not name its suppliers or say where those materials originate. It has been a Certified B Corp since 2017 and works with First Nations art centres on woven lighting, textiles and furniture, which it says has returned more than A$1.1 million to those communities.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| B Corp directory | Found | Certified B Corp since December 2017 with an overall score of 95.9. View ↗ |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Found | Lodged a voluntary modern slavery statement for 2025. View ↗ |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No allegations or company profile found on the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. View ↗ |
Sources (7)
- Koskela Pty Ltd – B Corp directory · archived copy · Certified B Corp since December 2017; overall score 95.9; Workers score 20.6; operates in Australia.
- Balancing Purpose and Profit – Koskela's B Corp certification · archived copy · Score rose from 82 to 96.2 in 2021; commitment to local manufacturing; First Nations art centre collaborations; 9-day fortnight for staff.
- Koskela achieves B Corporation re-certification · archived copy · All furniture manufactured in Australia; over A$1.1 million returned to First Nations communities; Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
- Koskela voluntary modern slavery statement 2025 (Australian Modern Slavery Register) · archived copy · About 10 employees; 21 Australian Tier 1 suppliers via local manufacturing partnerships; some raw materials may originate overseas; supplier code of conduct and self-assessment questionnaires.
- Studio visit: Russel Koskela (The Design Files, 2012) · archived copy · Koskela works with a network of local manufacturers rather than its own workshop.
- Stay true to your values: the Koskela story (Impakter, 2018) · archived copy · Relies on established Australian manufacturers; almost everything in its store is Australian made; partnership with Elcho Island Arts; one percent of profits for social enterprise products.
- Koskela Live · archived copy · Furniture and lighting described as Australian-made; collaborations with 12 First Nations art centres.
Last researched 8 October 2026 · details still being verified. Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Represent this company and think something is wrong? A right-of-reply form is coming soon.