String Furniture
On Track. Pays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 6 sources
Swedish maker of the String modular shelving system.
String Furniture makes 98% of its Swedish modular shelving systems in Sweden, where legal wages are about a living wage.
Also worth knowing
It uses FSC or PEFC certified timber.
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Why it's graded On Track
- Not met: Meets 4 of 7 Good requirements.
- Met: No red flags.
Good requirements 4 of 7
- Met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: presumed because legal wages in Sweden are about a living wage, not checked at the company
- Met: Respects worker rights
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Not met: Shows where its earlier production stages happen, not just the final oneA "Made in" claim can cover only the final stage. Earlier stages to show: materials and parts such as fabric, timber, glass, metal and ceramics
- 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 (timber) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeTraced or certified: timber
Red flags 0
None found.
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Sweden has the largest share, 98%. China is next, at 2%.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 98% | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| China | 2% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Passes the raw-material check for homewares and appliances: traces or certifies its timber.
- FSC or PEFC certified timber: Forest certification that includes core labour rights for forest workers.
- "Made in Sweden" only means the last major stage happened there: under customs and consumer law, materials and parts such as fabric, timber, glass, metal and ceramics can be made elsewhere. It hasn't shown where those earlier stages happen, so where it's made counts towards On Track but not Good.
- Traces or certifies most but not all of its timber. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes String buys from 40 direct suppliers, 35 in Sweden and 5 in China, and says 98% of its product volume comes from Swedish suppliers; it does not own factories or name suppliers. 89% of suppliers have signed its code of conduct and it screens risk under OECD guidance, prioritising social audits for high-risk suppliers (2% of volume), but publishes no audit results or living wage commitment. 68% of its wood is FSC certified and its steel wire is recycled.
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- String production locations (COSH!, 2025) · search the archive · Production in Sweden and China; 98% of volume from Swedish suppliers; 89% signed supplier code
- Clearwater advises String Furniture on its sale to Altor and Network of Design · search the archive · Altor bought String as the first brand of Network of Design; founders kept a significant stake
- String sale (Cult) · search the archive · String sold in store at Cult showrooms in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth
- Iconic Swedish shelving system goes outdoor (ArchitectureAU, 2019) · search the archive · String distributed in Australia by Great Dane
- String shelf 78 x 30 cm (Finnish Design Shop) · search the archive · Shelves made of lacquered MDF
Published by String Furniture or its owner
- String sustainability · search the archive · 40 suppliers: 35 Sweden, 5 China; 98% of volume Swedish; 89% signed code; audits for high-risk 2%; 68% of wood FSC
Company details
- Headquarters
- Sweden
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is String Furniture ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/string-furniture, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What On Track 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 String Furniture.