Native Union
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
Hong Kong brand selling phone cases and chargers.
Until Native Union traces its cobalt, gold and tin to the mine, it can't show that the miners who dig them are safe or fairly paid.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace. That alone means a poor grade until it takes steps to trace them.
- 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 trace
- 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 Native Union 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 Native Union does not say where its products are made or name its factories. Its code of conduct refers to suppliers in China and lets the company audit suppliers without notice, but it says nothing about wages. In 2021 the company admitted it did not yet work closely enough with partners to audit them regularly. It became a certified B Corp in 2025, though its supply chain score was low. Its leather comes from an LWG Gold-rated supplier. No supplier list, audit results or living wage commitment is published.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| B Corp directory | Certified | Certified B Corp since August 2025 with an overall score of 85.7; Supply Chain Management scored 3.5. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Not rated; Baptist World Aid's Electronics Industry Report ended in 2016 and covered only major brands. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Design Pool Limited dba Native Union (B Lab directory) · search the archive · Certified B Corp since August 2025, score 85.7; HQ Wan Chai, Hong Kong; supply chain management score 3.5
- Native Union Code of Ethics and Good Conduct · search the archive · Code refers to suppliers in China and allows unannounced supplier audits; no wage standard or factory locations
- Native Union Belt Cable (Rushfaster) · search the archive · Online Australian stockist shipping Native Union products from Australian warehouses
Published by Native Union or its owner
- Our Sustainability Journey (Native Union, 2021) · search the archive · Admits it does not yet work closely enough with partners for regular audits; leather from an LWG Gold supplier
- About Native Union · search the archive · Product range of cases, bands, chargers, cables, bags and desk accessories; no manufacturing locations given
Company details
- Headquarters
- China
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Native Union ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/native-union, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded phones
No phones brand selling new goods is Good yet. This is the strongest so far. Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Native Union.