ZEISS
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
German maker of camera lenses and binoculars.
Until ZEISS traces its cobalt, gold and tin to the mine, it can't show that the miners who dig them are safe or fairly paid.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace. That alone means a poor grade until it takes steps to trace them.
- 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 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
- 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: Made partly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace
- 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
ZEISS says it makes products in Germany and Hungary. Press and retailer reports name China and Japan. 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 |
| Germany | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Hungary | Systematic violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| Japan | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| 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.
- Modern slavery statement
- 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 ZEISS makes cine lenses and premium binoculars at its own sites in Germany and Hungary, while its Milvus and Otus photo lenses are made under contract by Cosina in Japan and its Terra binoculars are assembled in China; it gives no production split, so shares are even. Suppliers must follow the RBA code and supply conflict minerals templates, and higher-risk suppliers are audited, but ZEISS is not an RBA member, publishes no supplier or smelter list and reports no audit findings for consumer products. It makes no firm living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Carl Zeiss Pty Ltd and Carl Zeiss Vision Australia publish a joint statement under the Australian Modern Slavery Act (FY2024/25). View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Four UK ZEISS companies, including Carl Zeiss Limited, publish an annual UK Modern Slavery Act statement (year to September 2025). View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Carl Zeiss Pty Ltd modern slavery statement FY2024/25 (Australian register) · search the archive · Suppliers must follow the RBA code; higher-risk suppliers audited; no audit findings disclosed
- Kenko Tokina to cease production of ZEISS Loxia lenses (Sony Alpha Rumors, 2025) · search the archive · Loxia production by Kenko Tokina ended in 2025; Milvus and Otus lenses are made by Cosina in Japan
- Zeiss Terra ED 10x42 binocular review (American Rifleman) · search the archive · Terra binoculars are designed in Germany and assembled in China
- ZEISS lenses at Ted's Cameras · search the archive · ZEISS Batis, Milvus and ZM lenses sold with in-store pickup at Ted's Cameras in Australia
Published by ZEISS or its owner
- ZEISS Consumer Products fact sheet · search the archive · Products include photo and cine lenses, binoculars and riflescopes; own sites in Wetzlar, Germany and Mateszalka, Hungary
- ZEISS UK Modern Slavery Act Statement, year ended 30 September 2025 · search the archive · 46,622 group staff; suppliers mainly in Europe, the US, Mexico and China; CMRTs requested from suppliers by risk
- ZEISS German Supply Chain Act policy statement (2024) · search the archive · Annual risk analysis of own sites and direct suppliers; no specific violations reported
Company details
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Employees
- About 46,622
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is ZEISS ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/zeiss, 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 ZEISS.