Spigen
Lacks transparency. Shows little about where or how its products are made.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 3 sources
South Korean maker of phone cases and screen protectors.
We couldn't find where Spigen makes most of its phone cases and screen protectors, a certification covering its range or a list of its suppliers.
Also worth knowing
Most electronics are made in countries such as China and Vietnam, where pay is usually below a living wage.
Better-graded phones
Graded higher than Spigen, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.
No phones brand selling new goods is Good yet. This is the strongest so far. Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Spigen? Send a right of reply.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 3 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, unaudited production, probably in high-risk countries and untraced high-risk mined materials. 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 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsWhere electronics are usually made, such as China and Malaysia, 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
- 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: Probably 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 traceShown to explain the grade. It isn't one of the 2 red flags that set it.
- 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
We couldn't confirm where Spigen makes most of its products, so this shows where electronics are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 55% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 15% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Taiwan | 10% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Malaysia | 8% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| South Korea | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Close to a living wage | Low |
| India | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
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.
- 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 Spigen does not say where its cases and accessories are made, does not publish a supplier list, and has no public modern slavery statement, supplier code of conduct or audit results. Its products are made by contract manufacturers, but neither the factories nor their countries are disclosed. It is too small to be covered by the KnowTheChain ICT benchmark and was not in the Baptist World Aid Electronics Industry Report, whose last edition was in 2016. No labour abuse findings linked to its suppliers were found.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| KnowTheChain | Not covered | Not assessed in the 2025 KnowTheChain ICT benchmark, which covers 45 of the largest ICT companies. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 3
Show all 3 sources
- 2025 KnowTheChain ICT Benchmark (BHRRC) · search the archive · Benchmark of 45 large ICT companies; Spigen is not among them
- Spigen Apple iPhone 17 Ultra Hybrid Case (JB Hi-Fi) · search the archive · Spigen cases are sold by JB Hi-Fi in Australia
Published by Spigen or its owner
- Spigen.com Notice to Customers (April 2026) · search the archive · Spigen.com ships only to US addresses from 23 May 2026; no manufacturing information
Company details
- Headquarters
- South Korea
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Spigen ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/spigen, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Spigen.