simplehuman
Lacks transparency. Shows little about where or how its products are made.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 3 sources
Californian company selling step bins and soap pumps.
We couldn't find where simplehuman makes most of its bins, bathroom and kitchen tools, a certification covering its range or a list of its suppliers.
Also worth knowing
Most homewares and appliances are made in countries such as China and Vietnam, where pay is usually below a living wage.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent simplehuman? Send a right of reply.
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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, probably 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.
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 rightsWhere homewares and appliances are usually made, such as China and India, 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: Probably made mostly 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
We couldn't confirm where simplehuman makes most of its products, so this shows where homewares and appliances are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 50% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 15% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | 10% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Poland | 10% | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | 8% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Malaysia | 7% | 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 simplehuman does not say where its products are made or name its factories. US retailer listings mark some of its bins as made in Taiwan, and its first bins were made by an independent factory in Taiwan, but this is not enough to show production shares. The company publishes no supplier list, supplier code of conduct, social audit results, modern slavery statement or living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion and Electronics reports do not assess homewares brands such as simplehuman. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Unclear | No Australian modern slavery statement naming simplehuman was found on the register. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reports on labour abuses at simplehuman suppliers were found. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 3
Show all 3 sources
- How simplehuman built a better trash can (Fortune, 2016) · search the archive · First trash-can prototypes made by a small independent factory in Taiwan
- simplehuman 45 litre rectangular trash can (Crate & Barrel) · search the archive · Retailer listing marks this simplehuman bin as made in Taiwan
Published by simplehuman or its owner
- simplehuman Australia online store · search the archive · simplehuman runs an Australian online store selling its products
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is simplehuman ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/simplehuman, 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 simplehuman.