Sangean
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 30 October 2026 · 3 sources
Taiwanese maker of portable, digital and table-top radios and speakers.
Until Sangean 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 2 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 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsMost of its products are made in China, 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
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listMakes its products in its own factories
- 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: 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
From Sangean's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Taiwan | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
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.
- Owns or runs its own production
- 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 Sangean makes its radios in its own factories rather than outsourcing: it says its factory in New Taipei City, Taiwan, was expanded into Dongguan, China, and it does not say how production is split between the two. It publishes no supplier code, social audit results, modern slavery statement or conflict minerals report, so working conditions in its Dongguan factory and the sourcing of components and minerals are not disclosed. Its sustainability claims cover plastics reduction, FSC certification and a LEED Gold building, not labour.
Sources and actions
Sources 3
Show all 3 sources
- Sangean: proving radio is a timeless medium (IFA Berlin) · search the archive · Sangean does not outsource production and makes all devices in its own factories in Taiwan and Dongguan
- Sangean MMR-77 AM/FM multi-powered radio - JB Hi-Fi · search the archive · Sangean radios sold by JB Hi-Fi in Australia
Published by Sangean or its owner
- Our Company - SANGEAN · search the archive · Factory in New Taipei City, Taiwan, expanded into Dongguan, China; sustainability claims (plastics, FSC, LEED Gold); employee well-being programmes
Company details
- Headquarters
- Taiwan
- Last researched
- 30 October 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Sangean ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/sangean, last researched 30 October 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Other TV and audio brands
Nothing we've rated in TV and audio is better than Lacks transparency yet.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Sangean.