Vileda
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 5 sources
Brand of mops, buckets and cleaning cloths.
There's no proof Vileda 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 Vileda, selling the same kinds of things.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Vileda? Send a right of reply.
Compare Vileda with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 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 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsSome 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
- Met: High-risk raw materials (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeOnly in a few products: cotton
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made partly 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
Vileda says which countries it makes its products in, but doesn't name the factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Germany | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Czechia | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| Malaysia | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Thailand | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Cambodia | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Italy | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Sri Lanka | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Canada | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| Sweden | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
Evidence
What we found
- Uses cotton in only a few products, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good. It doesn't show where its cotton comes from. The "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
- Modern slavery statement
Research notes About 17% of the Vileda and Oates products sold in Australia come from Freudenberg's own factories, mainly in Ningbo (China), Augsburg (Germany) and Lazne Belohrad (Czech Republic). The rest come from just over 20 first-tier suppliers, mostly in China, with others in Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Italy, Sri Lanka, Canada and Sweden. Suppliers are reassessed every one to three years, with some on-site checks by Sedex-affiliated auditors, but no supplier list, audit results or living wage commitment is published. No country shares are given.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions Australia's 2024 statement says about 17% of products come from its own factories and that one Chinese supplier was dropped after refusing an audit. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions Ltd publishes a UK modern slavery statement (2022) describing an ethical sourcing programme with on-site audits and self-assessments. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions · search the archive · Owns Vileda, O-Cedar, Oates, Wettex, Marigold and other brands; production in all regions
- Vileda Supersized Cotton Mop - Woolworths · search the archive · Vileda sold at Woolworths; cotton used in some mop lines (minor cotton)
- Vileda Easy Wring and Clean Turbo Mop - Bunnings · search the archive · Vileda sold at Bunnings; main mop range uses synthetic microfibre
Published by Vileda or its owner
- Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions Australia - Modern Slavery Statement 2024 · search the archive · 17% from own factories (Ningbo, Augsburg, Lazne Belohrad); ~20 tier-1 suppliers mostly in China; Tianjin supplier removed after refusing audit
- Vileda UK - Modern Slavery Statement · search the archive · Ethical sourcing programme with on-site audits and self-assessments; no sites or countries named
Company details
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Vileda ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/vileda, last researched 2 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 Vileda.