Narwal
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
Chinese maker of self-cleaning robot vacuum-mops.
There's no proof Narwal pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Narwal? Send a right of reply.
Compare Narwal with another brand
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 a hidden, unaudited supply chain 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 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rights83% of its products are made in countries such as China and India, 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
- 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: Hidden supply chain, mostly in countries with poor worker rights
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From press and retailer reports; Narwal doesn't say where its products are made. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 65% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | 10% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| PolandUsual for the industry | 7% | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | 6% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| MalaysiaUsual for the industry | 5% | 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 Narwal has built its own factory in Dongguan, China, from its start, unlike many rivals that use contract makers; the share shown counts that one named factory. It does not say whether all its products are made there. It publishes no supplier list, supplier code, audit results, modern slavery statement or living wage commitment. It is not named in ASPI's 2020 Uyghurs for Sale report, and no labour abuse reports linked to its factories were found.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| KnowTheChain | Not covered | Not among the large companies assessed in KnowTheChain benchmarks. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Uyghurs for sale (ASPI, 2020) · search the archive · ASPI's report on Uyghur labour transfers to factories across China; this brand is not among the brands named
- The golden age of small appliances (36Kr) · search the archive · Narwal built its own factory in Dongguan from the start; R&D HQ in Songshan Lake
- Narwal Robotics raises funding from ByteDance and others (36Kr Japan) · search the archive · Narwal robot vacuum-mop maker; ByteDance among investors
- Yunjing plans Beijing R&D HQ (Beijing Daily, 2025) · search the archive · Founded 2016; 2024 revenue up over 130%
- Narwal vacuums (JB Hi-Fi) · search the archive · JB Hi-Fi sells Narwal robot and upright vacuums in Australia
Company details
- Headquarters
- China
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Narwal ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/narwal, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded appliances
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Narwal.