Zip Water
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 5 sources
Sydney maker of HydroTap boiling and chilled water taps.
We couldn't confirm where it makes the rest, and most homewares and appliances are made in countries such as China and Vietnam, where the legal minimum is below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 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 3 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Met: Respects worker rights
- 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 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Zip Water names some of the countries it makes in: Australia. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| PolandUsual for the industry | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| MalaysiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
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.
- Makes part of its range in its own factories
- Modern slavery statement
Research notes Zip says it makes the majority of its products at its own factory in Condell Park, Sydney, but does not say how large that share is or where the rest are made. Most of its roughly 515 suppliers are overseas, in China, Germany, the USA, Taiwan, Brazil and the UK, with no shares given. It sends risk questionnaires to suppliers, audits some each year and aimed to review 50 by the end of 2025, but publishes no supplier list, audit findings or living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Zip Water Group's statement approved in November 2025 names suppliers in China, Germany, the USA, Taiwan, Brazil and the UK, and reports no modern slavery found. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Baptist World Aid's ethical reports do not rate water tap makers; its Electronics Industry Report ended in 2016. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- ACCC informal merger review: Culligan - Waterlogic · search the archive · Culligan owns the Zip brand in Australia; Billi divested as a condition of the Waterlogic deal (2022)
- Zip Water at Harvey Norman · search the archive · Zip Water taps sold by Harvey Norman in Australia
Published by Zip Water or its owner
- Zip Water Group Modern Slavery Statement (November 2025) · search the archive · Majority of Zip products made in Australia at Condell Park; parent Culligan; ~515 suppliers in CN, DE, US, TW, BR, UK; ~700 staff; no cases found
- Zip Water Group Modern Slavery Statement 2024 · search the archive · Majority of suppliers overseas; 59 of 71 suppliers answered questionnaire in 2024
- Sneak peek into our Operations Centre (Zip Water, 2021) · search the archive · HydroTap designed and manufactured in Condell Park, Western Sydney
Company details
- Owned by
- Culligan (USA)
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Employees
- About 700
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Zip Water ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/zip-water, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
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Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Zip Water.