Maxwell & Williams

Lacks transparency. Shows little about where or how its products are made.

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources

Melbourne homewares brand selling dinnerware and glassware.

We couldn't find where Maxwell & Williams makes most of its dinnerware, glassware and kitchenware, a certification covering its range or a list of its suppliers.

Also worth knowing

Most homewares and appliances 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 2 of 6 Good requirements.
Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: 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.

How grades are decided

Good requirements 2 of 6

Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
Not met: Respects worker rightsWhere homewares and appliances are usually made, such as China and India, 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
Met: High-risk raw materials (such as timber and cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNone recorded in a major share of its range

Red flags 2

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

Stars it would earn as Good

None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars

Where it's made

Not confirmed

We couldn't confirm where Maxwell & Williams makes most of its products, so this shows where homewares and appliances are usually made.

Where it's made, share by country, and conditions there
Country	Share	Worker rights	Legal minimum wage	Forced labour risk
China	50%	No guarantee of rights	Below a living wage	Moderate
Vietnam	15%	Systematic violations	Well below a living wage	Moderate
India	10%	No guarantee of rights	Well below a living wage	High
Poland	10%	Regular violations	Close to a living wage	Moderate
Indonesia	8%	No guarantee of rights	Well below a living wage	Moderate
Malaysia	7%	No guarantee of rights	Below a living wage	Moderate

Evidence

What we found

No high-risk raw materials (such as timber and cotton) are recorded in a major share of its range, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good.

Research notes Maxwell & Williams designs its ranges in Australia, but does not say where its dinnerware, glassware or kitchenware is made. It publishes no supplier or factory list, ethical sourcing policy, audit results, modern slavery statement or living wage commitment. No labour abuses tied to its products have been reported.

Sources and actions

Sources 4

Show all 4 sources

Tupperware returns to Australia with Hag Import deal (Inside Retail, 2026) · search the archive · Returned 29 June 2026 via distributor Hag Import Corporation, which also manages Maxwell & Williams; Party Products named as owner
HAG celebrates 50 years (Gift Guide Online, 2015) · search the archive · HAG founded 1963 by Harry and Anna Grundmann; Maxwell & Williams launched by Max Grundmann and William Ryan; in-house design team
Happy birthday HAG (Gourmet Traveller, 2013) · search the archive · HAG owns Maxwell & Williams, about 100 staff in 2013; no manufacturing locations given

Published by Maxwell & Williams or its owner

Maxwell & Williams Australia - official site · search the archive · Australian brand founded by Max Grundmann; sold in 500+ Australian outlets and about 40 markets; no sourcing or modern slavery information

Company details

Owned by: H.A.G. Import Corporation (Australia), privately owned
Headquarters: Australia
Last researched: 3 November 2026
Cite this page: Labour Lens, "Is Maxwell & Williams ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/maxwell-and-williams, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
Method: Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means

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