Macpac

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

Based on what Macpac publishes, with few independent checks. Researched with AI assistance against published rules. Last researched 2 November 2026 · 5 sources · How we check

New Zealand outdoor brand selling packs, tents and clothing.

There's no proof Macpac pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.

Better-graded outdoor

Graded higher than Macpac, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.

5 op shops and resale platforms, Good by ruleBuying second-hand or refurbished: Anglicare Op Shops and Salvos Stores and 3 more · See them allGood Wilderness WearIts own factories in Australia hold Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.Australian-made merino outdoor clothingGoodGoes Above and Beyond Earth Sea SkyMakes most of its range in New Zealand.NZ-made outdoor and polar clothingPays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.On TrackPartly verified NorsewearMakes most of its range in New Zealand.Wool socks, gloves and beaniesPays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.On TrackPartly verified

Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.

See every outdoor brand

See 19 better-graded brands in outdoor

Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Macpac? Send a right of reply.

Compare Macpac with another brand

Brand to compare with

Why it's graded Lacks transparency

Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements, with 2 red flags.OpenClose

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.

How grades are decided

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 rightsMost of its products are made in countries such as China and the Philippines, 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
Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listPublishes its supplier list
Met: High-risk raw materials (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeOnly in a few products: cotton

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

China, Vietnam, Philippines and 7 more countries.OpenClose

From Macpac's own disclosure: it publishes its supplier list.

Where it's made, and conditions there
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
Philippines	No guarantee of rights	Well below a living wage	Moderate
Taiwan	Strong protections	Close to a living wage	Low
Indonesia	No guarantee of rights	Well below a living wage	Moderate
Cambodia	No guarantee of rights	Far below a living wage	Moderate
South Korea	No guarantee of rights	Close to a living wage	Low
Japan	Strong protections	Close to a living wage	Low
Italy	Strong protections	Close to a living wage	Low
United States	Systematic violations	Below a living wage	Low

Evidence

3 things we found and what 2 independent sources say.OpenClose

What we found

Uses cotton in only a few products, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good. It doesn't show where its cotton comes from. The "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
Publishes supplier list
Modern slavery statement

Research notes Macpac moved its manufacturing out of New Zealand in 2001. Its products and materials now come from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Korea, Japan, Italy and the US, but it does not give shares by country. It publishes its first-tier factory list on Open Supply Hub, uses Fairtrade organic cotton for its cotton T-shirts and takes part in the Better Buying purchasing practices index (72/100 in 2025). It says it is working towards a living wage but has set no target date. Its parent, Super Retail Group, reported a child worker and undisclosed subcontracting at suppliers in FY24-25 without naming the brands involved.

What independent sources say

Source	Result	Details
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion ReportAnother organisation's rating. The Ethical Fashion Report rates what fashion companies do to protect workers and the environment where their clothes are made. By its rating, Macpac does much of this. Under 25/100 counts as failing here.	Rated 56/100	Scored 56 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5), after 52 in 2024. View
Australian Modern Slavery Register	Statement filed	Covered by Super Retail Group's FY25 modern slavery statement; Macpac's first-tier factory list is on Open Supply Hub, but no Macpac-specific audit results are reported. View

Sources and actions

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

Sources 5

Show all 5 sources

Macpac - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: Macpac scored 56/100 (average 31.5); Oxfam tracker: tier one supplier names and addresses released
Newstalk ZB: Revealed - where favourite NZ brands are made · search the archive · Macpac moved its manufacturing from Christchurch to China, Vietnam and the Philippines in 2003

Published by Macpac or its owner

Super Retail Group Modern Slavery Statement FY25 · search the archive · Macpac first-tier list on Open Supply Hub; Better Buying score 72/100; Fairtrade organic cotton tees; Group child worker and outsourcing cases
Corporate Responsibility (Macpac) · search the archive · Suppliers in Italy, Japan, China, Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Korea and the US
Living wage journey (Macpac) · search the archive · Living wage work described as ongoing, with no target year or interim targets

Company details

Owned by: Super Retail Group
Headquarters: New Zealand
Last researched: 2 November 2026
Cite this page: Labour Lens, "Is Macpac ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/macpac, last researched 2 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 Macpac.

Send evidence Send a right of reply

Choose a better-graded brand

19 brands in outdoor are graded higher than Macpac.

See 19 better-graded brands in outdoor Search another brand