Wüsthof
Partly verifiedWüsthof is on the right track: most of its goods are made in Germany, where legal wages are close to a living wage, and it makes most products in its own factories. What's missing is independent checks across its whole supply chain.
Last researched 8 October 2026
Heading in the right direction. Workers are paid enough to live on, or the company is certified as working towards it, and there are no serious warning signs. One piece is still unproven. What this grade means
Good: 4 of 5
- Pays a living wage
- Respects worker rights
- Full supply chain audit, or made only in countries with rigorous labour standards
- No child or forced labour findings
- Publishes where its products are made (supplier list, named farms or its own factories)
Great: 0 of 3
- Pays beyond a living wage
- Finds and fixes problems, or invests directly in workers' communities
- Actively empowers workers
Needs all Good requirements plus two of these.
Red flags: 0
None found.
Where it's made
| Country | Worker rights | Legal wages | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany 95% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| China 5% | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
Country conditions from the ITUC Global Rights Index, Global Slavery Index and living wage benchmarks. Certifications and audits can raise a company above its countries' baseline.
Why this grade
- Timber, cotton textiles and ceramics carry moderate raw-material risk; illegal logging is linked to forced labour in some regions.
- Owns or runs its own production
WÜSTHOF is a family-owned knife maker that forges its knives in its own factories in Solingen, Germany, where most of its roughly 480 staff work, so most of what it sells is made under German labour law. Some accessories are bought in rather than made in Solingen: its take-apart kitchen shears and a stainless steel steak knife set are sold as made in China, and the company does not say where its other non-knife items (sharpeners, boards) are made or what share they make up. It does not publish a supplier list, a human rights policy, social audit results or details on where its steel comes from beyond describing it as German steel, and no labour abuses linked to the company have been reported.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Unclear | No WÜSTHOF modern slavery statement is published; with group revenue of about €56 million it is likely below the A$100 million reporting threshold. View ↗ |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Unclear | No WÜSTHOF statement is identified in the UK registry, and its size suggests it is likely below the £36 million threshold. View ↗ |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No allegations against WÜSTHOF are identified in news or human rights reporting. View ↗ |
| Wikidata | Unclear | Not checked; Wikipedia lists it as family-owned and headquartered in Solingen with about 480 staff. View ↗ |
Sources (5)
- WÜSTHOF Production · archived copy · Forged knives made only in Solingen, Germany; about 1.7 million knives a year; X50 CrMoV 15 steel; page does not cover where non-forged items such as shears, boards and sharpeners are made.
- The Timeless Sustainability of WÜSTHOF Knives · archived copy · Says every WÜSTHOF knife is made in Solingen from German steel; no labour standards, supplier or certification information.
- Wüsthof - Wikipedia · archived copy · Family-owned, about 480 employees (2018), around 400 in Solingen; revenue about €56 million (2017); three production facilities in Solingen.
- Wusthof Come-Apart Kitchen Shears - Cutlery and More · archived copy · WÜSTHOF kitchen shears listed as made in China.
- Wusthof Knives - a Buyer's Guide (Kitchen Knife Guru) · archived copy · WÜSTHOF stainless steel steak knife sets are made in China, unlike its other knives, which are made in Solingen; Pro line reported as made in Solingen.
Last researched 8 October 2026 · details still being verified. Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Represent this company and think something is wrong? A right-of-reply form is coming soon.