Noritake

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

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources

Japanese maker of fine china and porcelain tableware.

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

Better-graded cookware and tableware

Graded higher than Noritake, selling the same kinds of things.

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Why it's graded Lacks transparency

Not met: Meets 2 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 2 of 6

Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
Not met: Respects worker rightsSome of its products are made in Thailand, 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, partly 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

Noritake says it makes products in Sri Lanka and Japan. Product labels show Thailand.

Where it's made, and conditions there
Country	Worker rights	Legal minimum wage	Forced labour risk
Sri Lanka	Systematic violations	Well below a living wage	Moderate
Japan	Strong protections	Close to a living wage	Low
Thailand	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 Noritake has long made most of its tableware at its subsidiary factory Noritake Lanka Porcelain in Sri Lanka, which in 2015 supplied about 90% of the brand's tableware, with the rest made at a Noritake site in Imari, Japan. Some ranges sold in Australia, such as Noritake Everyday by Adam Liaw, are labelled made in Thailand. Noritake publishes a human rights policy and supplier guidelines, but no factory list, supplier audit results, wage data or modern slavery statement. No current split is given, so shares are not shown.

What independent sources say

Source	Result	Details
Australian Modern Slavery Register	Unclear	No modern slavery statement from Noritake or its Australian business was found on the Australian or UK registers. View
US Department of Labor goods lists	Not listed	Porcelain and ceramic tableware from Sri Lanka or Japan is not on the US Department of Labor list of goods made with child or forced labour. View

Sources and actions

Sources 6

Show all 6 sources

Chinaware maker Noritake bets its future on Sri Lanka (Daily FT, 2015) · search the archive · Matale, Sri Lanka factory supplies about 90% of Noritake tableware; Japanese production consolidated at Imari; other overseas sites shut.
Noritake Lanka Porcelain (Sri Lanka Export Development Board) · search the archive · Noritake Lanka Porcelain in Matale makes porcelain tableware; founded 1972 as a joint venture with Noritake Co., Limited.
Noritake Everyday by Adam Liaw Ameyu Dinner Set (Kitchen Warehouse) · search the archive · Range sold by Australian chain Kitchen Warehouse; labelled made in Thailand, designed in Australia.
Noritake Arctic 12 Piece Dinner Set (Robins Kitchen) · search the archive · Noritake dinnerware sold by Australian homewares chain Robins Kitchen.

Published by Noritake or its owner

Respect for human rights (Noritake) · search the archive · Human rights policy and surveys of executives and stakeholders; no supplier audit results or modern slavery statement
Noritake historical record · search the archive · Lanka Porcelain founded 1972, now Noritake Lanka Porcelain; tableware production company in Japan.

Company details

Owned by: Noritake Co., Limited (Nagoya, Japan)
Headquarters: Japan
Last researched: 3 November 2026
Cite this page: Labour Lens, "Is Noritake ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/noritake, 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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