Thule
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
Swedish maker of roof racks, bike carriers and bags.
There's no proof Thule pays more than the legal minimum, which in the United States and Brazil is below a living wage.
Better-graded bags and accessories
Graded higher than Thule, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.
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 Thule? Send a right of reply.
Compare Thule with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 4 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 4 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Met: Respects worker rights
- 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 cotton and leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNone recorded in a major share of its range
Red flags 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Thule names some of the countries it makes in: Sweden, Germany, Belgium, the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Poland. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Germany | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Belgium | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| United States | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| Brazil | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| United Kingdom | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Poland | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far 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 |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| TürkiyeUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- No high-risk raw materials (such as cotton and leather) are recorded in a major share of its range, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good.
- Uses little or no cotton (e.g. wool, linen or leather products)
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Makes part of its range in its own factories
Research notes Thule makes most car carriers and RV products in its own nine plants in Sweden, Germany, Belgium, the US, Brazil, the UK and Poland, and has no plants in Asia; its packs, bags and luggage are mainly bought in as finished goods from suppliers whose countries it does not name. It has about 760 material suppliers in 30 countries and had valid audits for suppliers making up 95.9% of spend in high-risk countries in 2025, but publishes no supplier list, audit findings or living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Listed | Company profile lists Thule Group on modern slavery legislation trackers, with no allegations and no response requests. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Not assessed in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, the latest edition; the report does not cover this bag and car-carrier maker. View |
| KnowTheChain | Not listed | Not benchmarked in KnowTheChain's 2023 apparel and footwear benchmark. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Thule Group company profile (BHRRC) · search the archive · No allegations or response requests recorded
- Thule Subterra travel backpack (Myer) · search the archive · Thule backpacks sold by Australian department store Myer
Published by Thule or its owner
- Thule Group Annual and Sustainability Report 2025 · search the archive · Nine own plants in 7 countries, none in Asia; bags mainly sourced; ~760 suppliers in 30 countries; 95.9% high-risk spend audited; ~3,000 staff
- Thule Group Annual Report 2024 · search the archive · 2024: nine plants in 7 countries; packs, bags and luggage mainly sourced; ~750 suppliers in 32 countries; 98% high-risk spend audited
- Sustainability (Thule) · search the archive · Regular audits against supplier code of conduct; works with bluesign; no supplier list or living wage
Company details
- Headquarters
- Sweden
- Employees
- About 3,000
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Thule ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/thule, 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 Thule.