STIHL
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
Family-owned German maker of chainsaws and garden tools.
There's no proof STIHL pays more than the legal minimum, which in Romania and the United States 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 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 rightsSome of its products are made in China and the Philippines, 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
- 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: 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
From STIHL's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Romania | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| United States | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| Brazil | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Switzerland | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| Austria | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Philippines | No guarantee of rights | Well 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.
- Owns or runs its own production
- Modern slavery statement
Research notes STIHL makes its tools in its own plants in eight countries: Germany (eight sites), Romania (a battery tool plant opened in 2025), the US, Brazil, Switzerland, Austria, China and the Philippines; no production shares or supplier list are published. It has a supplier code with audit rights, annual supplier risk analysis and joined the UN Global Compact in 2023, but reports no audit results, wage data or living wage commitment, and names cobalt from Congo in battery supply chains as a risk.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | STIHL Australia's statement for 2024 lists group plants in eight countries and reports no modern slavery cases, but gives no audit numbers or supplier screening results. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | STIHL GB publishes a UK Modern Slavery Act statement stating a zero tolerance approach to modern slavery. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Listed | Company profile lists no allegations, lawsuits or response requests; only a 2016 US supply chain statement is recorded. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Outdoor power equipment is not assessed in Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion or Electronics reports. View |
| Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (World Benchmarking Alliance) | Not covered | Outdoor power equipment makers are not among the sectors assessed in the 2026 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- STIHL - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre · search the archive · No allegations or response requests recorded
Published by STIHL or its owner
- STIHL Australia Modern Slavery Statement 2024 · search the archive · Manufacturing in DE, RO, US, BR, CH, AT, CN, PH; supplier code and risk analysis; no cases; no living wage commitment
- STIHL Australia Modern Slavery Statement 2023 · search the archive · Cobalt from DR Congo and battery cells from China named as risks; UN Global Compact since 2023; no cases
- Production network - STIHL · search the archive · Own production sites in eight countries incl. Waiblingen, Wil, Oradea, Huizhou, Santo Tomas, Virginia Beach
- STIHL press conference 2026 (2025 results) · search the archive · 20,246 employees at end of 2025; Oradea battery tool plant opened Oct 2025
- STIHL UK Modern Slavery Statement · search the archive · UK Modern Slavery Act statement published
- STIHL is only sold through our STIHL Dealer Network (STIHL Australia) · search the archive · Sold in Australia through STIHL dealers and shops
Company details
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Employees
- About 20,246
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is STIHL ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/stihl, 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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Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent STIHL.