OXO

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

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources

Brand of kitchen utensils known for its Good Grips range.

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

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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 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 rightsSome 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 (timber) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeOnly in a few products: timber

Red flags 2

Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Red flag: Made partly 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

These are Helen of Troy's countries across all its brands; OXO doesn't say where its own products are made. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.

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
Mexico	Regular violations	Below a living wage	Moderate
United States	Systematic violations	Below a living wage	Low
IndiaUsual for the industry	No guarantee of rights	Well below a living wage	High
PolandUsual for the industry	Regular violations	Close to a living wage	Moderate
IndonesiaUsual for the industry	No guarantee of rights	Well below a living wage	Moderate
MalaysiaUsual for the industry	No guarantee of rights	Below a living wage	Moderate

Evidence

What we found

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

Research notes Helen of Troy buys all its products from unaffiliated manufacturers, most of them in China, Vietnam, Mexico and the US; about 57% of the group's finished goods came from China in fiscal 2026, but no split is given for OXO. New suppliers get a social compliance audit and later audits are risk-based, but the group publishes no supplier list, audit results, worker grievance channel or living wage commitment. A small share of OXO tools are wooden; a new wood utensil line is FSC-certified.

Sources and actions

Sources 6

Show all 6 sources

Helen of Troy Form 10-K, fiscal 2026 · search the archive · Contract manufacturers mainly in China, Vietnam and Mexico; about 83% of finished goods from Asia and 57% from China in FY2026
Helen of Troy Form 10-Q, quarter ended 31 August 2026 · search the archive · OXO still in the portfolio; products bought from unaffiliated makers mostly in China, Vietnam, Mexico and the US
Helen of Troy sourcing shift away from China (Supply Chain Dive) · search the archive · Group moving supplier production from China to Southeast Asia
OXO Good Grips Natural Beechwood Paddle/Turner (Ace Hardware) · search the archive · OXO sells some beechwood utensils

Published by OXO or its owner

Helen of Troy Sustainability Report FY2026 · search the archive · 48 key Tier 1 suppliers, 100% outsourced; risk-based audits; no findings or living wage data; OXO added FSC wood utensil line
Helen of Troy Anti-Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Statement FY2026 · search the archive · Group statement under California and UK law; new suppliers audited; announced or unannounced visits; no results disclosed

Company details

Owned by: Helen of Troy Limited
Headquarters: United States
Last researched: 3 November 2026
Cite this page: Labour Lens, "Is OXO ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/oxo, 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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