UGREEN
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources
Chinese maker of chargers, cables and power banks.
There's no proof UGREEN pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
Better-graded phones
Graded higher than UGREEN, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.
No phones brand selling new goods is Good yet. This is the strongest so far. 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 UGREEN? Send a right of reply.
Compare UGREEN with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 3 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, a hidden, unaudited supply chain in high-risk countries and untraced high-risk mined materials. 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 1 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
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Not met: Traces its cobalt, gold and other conflict minerals to the mine
Red flags 3
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain, mostly in countries with poor worker rights
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't traceShown to explain the grade. It isn't one of the 2 red flags that set it.
- Red flag: Fails its category's raw-material check (means Lacks transparency)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
UGREEN names some of the countries it makes in: China. The rest is shown as where electronics are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| TaiwanUsual for the industry | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| MalaysiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| South KoreaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Close to a living wage | Low |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: cobalt, tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold mining carry child and forced labour risk (DR Congo, Indonesia), and assembly overtime is widespread.
- Relies on metals such as cobalt, gold and tin from artisanal mines where miners, including children, face toxic dust, mercury exposure and deadly tunnel collapses. It hasn't shown any steps to trace these materials to the mine, so it's graded Lacks transparency until it does.
Research notes UGREEN mainly buys finished products from outside factories it does not name, and makes some itself in four production subsidiaries in China, including Huizhou and Ji'an; its 2026 half-year report mentions expanding overseas production partnerships without naming countries. It describes supplier vetting and conflict-minerals checks but publishes no supplier code, audit results, supplier list, modern slavery statement or living wage commitment, and no labour abuses at its suppliers are recorded. China is the only country named, with no share given.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| KnowTheChain | Not covered | Not among the large ICT companies assessed in the 2025 KnowTheChain ICT benchmark. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 4
Show all 4 sources
- Ugreen 2025 ESG Report (cninfo) · search the archive · In-house production via subsidiaries in Huizhou and Ji'an; 1,230 R&D staff = 24.13% of workforce; supplier ESG review; conflict minerals checks
- Ugreen Group 2026 half-year report (cninfo) · search the archive · Mainly outsourced finished-goods buying plus own production in 4 subsidiaries; pursuing overseas production partners; sites ISO 45001 certified
- Ugreen Group company profile (cninfo) · search the archive · Model dominated by outsourced procurement of finished products, supplemented by own production; based in Shenzhen
- UGREEN Nexode Pro 65W charger (Bunnings) · search the archive · UGREEN chargers sold by Bunnings in Australia
Company details
- Headquarters
- China
- Employees
- About 5,100
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is UGREEN ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/ugreen, 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 UGREEN.