Labour Lens

Timemore

Lacks transparency

Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.

Homewares, furniture & appliances

Partly verified: what this means

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources

Shanghai coffee gear brand selling grinders and kettles.

There's no proof Timemore pays more than the legal minimum, which in China 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 2 of 6 Good requirements.
  • Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and a hidden, unaudited supply chain 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.

How grades are decided

Good requirements 2 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 India, 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
  • 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 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: Hidden supply chain, mostly in countries with poor worker rights

Stars it would earn as Good

None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars

Where it's made

Timemore names some of the countries it makes in: China. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.

Where it's made, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
ChinaNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
VietnamUsual for the industrySystematic violationsWell below a living wageModerate
IndiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageHigh
PolandUsual for the industryRegular violationsClose to a living wageModerate
IndonesiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageModerate
MalaysiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate

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.

Research notes Timemore says it set up its own manufacturing centre in Guangdong, China, in 2020, and a retailer brand profile describes about 26,000 m2 of factory space with CNC machining and electric grinder assembly. It does not say what share of its range, such as kettles and scales, is made there or by outside suppliers. It publishes no supplier list, code of conduct, audit results, wage information or modern slavery statement.

What independent sources say

SourceResultDetails
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion ReportNot coveredBaptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion and Electronics reports do not assess coffee equipment makers such as Timemore. View
Business & Human Rights Resource CentreUnclearNo Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reports on labour abuses at Timemore or its suppliers were found. View

Sources and actions

Sources 4

Show all 4 sources
  1. About Timemore (Lazada Brand Wiki) · search the archive · Shanghai Timemore Coffee Equipment Co.; about 26,000 m2 factory area, 250 CNC machines, electric grinder assembly plant
  2. Timemore C3 Grinder (Jetblack Espresso) · search the archive · Sold with in-store pickup at showrooms in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart and elsewhere

Published by Timemore or its owner

  1. Timemore FAQ (official site) · search the archive · Founded July 2012; established a manufacturing centre in Guangdong in 2020
  2. About TIMEMORE (official EU site) · search the archive · Founded 2012, headquartered in Shanghai; grinders, kettles, scales and drippers sold in 60+ countries

Company details

Headquarters
China
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Timemore ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/timemore, 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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