Royal Worcester
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
English fine bone china brand.
Royal Worcester can't show that the workers who make its products in India earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 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.
Good requirements 3 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in India, China and Vietnam.
- 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 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From product labels; Royal Worcester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | 35% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | 10% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| 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.
- Modern slavery statement
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
Research notes Portmeirion Group does not say where Royal Worcester is made. The group makes about 39% of its products at its own factories in England and buys the rest from unnamed partner factories; its chief executive has said moving the Royal Worcester range back to Stoke-on-Trent will take longer than Spode. One UK retailer lists Royal Worcester Wrendale Designs bone china mugs as made in India. All group suppliers get announced SMETA audits every two years, but no supplier list, audit results or living wage commitment is published, and no labour abuses have been reported.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Covered by Portmeirion Group's 2025 UK modern slavery statement: all product suppliers get external SMETA 4-pillar audits every two years and no modern slavery was found in 2025. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion and Electronics reports do not assess homewares brands like Royal Worcester. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Portmeirion Group preliminary results for 2025 (RNS, May 2026) · search the archive · About 39% of products made at own English factories; rest from unnamed partner factories; no brand-level split given
- Portmeirion CEO focuses on U.S. retail growth (Home Accents Today, 2025) · search the archive · Group will work on reshoring Portmeirion and Royal Worcester ranges after Spode, which will take longer
- Wrendale Designs Duck Love Bone China Mug - John Lewis · search the archive · Royal Worcester Wrendale Designs bone china mug listed with country of origin India
- Royal Worcester Wrendale Designs Cattitude Mug - Minimax · search the archive · Royal Worcester sold in store and by click and collect at Minimax in Australia
Published by Royal Worcester or its owner
- Portmeirion Group Transparency Statement on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery 2025 · search the archive · All product suppliers SMETA audited every two years; no modern slavery found in 2025
Company details
- Owned by
- Portmeirion Group
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Royal Worcester ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/royal-worcester, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded cookware and tableware
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Royal Worcester.