Thermos
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources
Japanese-owned brand of vacuum flasks and food jars.
There's no proof Thermos pays more than the legal minimum, which in China and Malaysia is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
Better-graded cookware and tableware
Graded higher than Thermos, selling the same kinds of things.
None of the cookware and tableware brands we know to make appliances is Good yet. These are the strongest so far. Nachtmann, Riedel and 6 more are Good, but we don't know that they make appliances.
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Compare Thermos with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production 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 3 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 countries such as China and Malaysia, 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 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
From Thermos's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories. Its list covers only part of its range. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Malaysia | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Philippines | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| PolandUsual for the industry | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | 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
Research notes Thermos makes its vacuum flasks and food jars mainly in its own overseas factories: Top Thermos Mfg. in Malaysia (1989), two Thermos plants in China (1995, 2011) and Vacuumtech Philippines (2015). Thermos publishes no supplier list, social audit results or wage data for these factories, and no living wage commitment was found.
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 Thermos. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Unclear | No Australian modern slavery statement naming Thermos or Thermos Australia was found on the register. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No recent Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reports on labour abuses at Thermos factories were found. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 4
Show all 4 sources
- Thermos builds fourth overseas production base in the Philippines (Gas Review) · search the archive · Thermos, world's largest vacuum bottle maker, runs two plants in China, one in Malaysia and a new Philippines plant (VPI)
- Japan's Thermos allots P1.62B to put up PH plant (Inquirer) · search the archive · Thermos set up Vacuumtech Philippines Inc. to make stainless steel vacuum flasks, 10 million units a year (2014)
- Thermos King 470ml food jar (Kmart Australia) · search the archive · Thermos products sold at Kmart stores in Australia
Published by Thermos or its owner
- Thermos K.K. company history · search the archive · Own plants: Top Thermos Mfg. (Malaysia) 1989; Thermos (China) Housewares 1995; Thermos (Jiangsu) Housewares 2011
Company details
- Headquarters
- Japan
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Thermos ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/thermos, 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 Thermos.