Lacks transparency. Shows little about where or how its products are made.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
Melbourne-founded maker of Wi-Fi smart bulbs and light strips.
We couldn't find where LIFX makes most of its wi-Fi smart light bulbs, a certification covering its range or a list of its suppliers.
Also worth knowing
Most electronics are made in countries such as China and Vietnam, where pay is usually below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 3 red flags, 2 of which set the grade: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production, probably 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 rightsWhere electronics are usually made, such as China and Malaysia, 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 3
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Probably made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't traceShown to explain the grade. It isn't one of the 2 red flags that set it.
- Red flag: Fails its category's raw-material check (means Lacks transparency)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
We couldn't confirm where LIFX makes most of its products, so this shows where electronics are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 55% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 15% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Taiwan | 10% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Malaysia | 8% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| South Korea | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Close to a living wage | Low |
| India | 5% | 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.
- Relies on metals such as cobalt, gold and tin from artisanal mines where miners, including children, face toxic dust, mercury exposure and deadly tunnel collapses. It hasn't shown any steps to trace these materials to the mine, so it's graded Lacks transparency until it does.
Research notes Neither LIFX nor its owner Feit Electric publishes where products are made, a supplier list, a modern slavery statement, audit results or a minerals sourcing report. Reporting from 2022 said LIFX's former owner used manufacturers in China, and retail listings give China as country of origin, but current factories are not disclosed. No labour abuse findings linked to LIFX or Feit suppliers were found.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| KnowTheChain | Not covered | Not assessed in the 2025 KnowTheChain ICT benchmark, which covers 45 of the largest ICT companies. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Feit Electric buys LIFX: what about the complaints (ChannelNews, Nov 2022) · search the archive · Feit Electric bought LIFX and Buddy Technologies in August 2022; former owner's Chinese manufacturers stopped supplying over unpaid bills
- LIFX smart light brand has a new owner (TechHive) · search the archive · California-based Feit bought LIFX from receivership and keeps the brand
- LIFX launches SuperColour range at Beacon Lighting (AAP, Nov 2025) · search the archive · LIFX is a Feit Electric brand, founded in Melbourne; sold in Beacon Lighting's 130+ Australian stores
- LIFX A19 smart bulb listing (eBay) · search the archive · Retail listing gives China as country of origin
- Feit Electric (CB Insights) · search the archive · Feit Electric founded 1978, HQ Pico Rivera, California
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is LIFX ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/lifx, 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 LIFX.