Labour Lens

Zojirushi

Lacks transparency

Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.

Homewares, furniture & appliances

Partly verified: what this means

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources

Osaka maker of rice cookers and vacuum flasks.

There's no proof Zojirushi pays more than the legal minimum, which in China and Thailand is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.

Better-graded appliances

Graded higher than Zojirushi, selling the same kinds of things.

ASKOHomewares, furniture & appliancesPremium dishwashers and laundry appliancesIts own factories in Slovenia and Serbia hold SA8000 certification.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Open supply chain3 starsMieleHomewares, furniture & appliancesPremium household appliancesIts own factories in Germany and Poland hold SA8000 certification.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Gives workers a real voice; Open supply chain4 starsGorenjeHomewares, furniture & appliancesFridges, ovens and laundry appliancesIts own factories in Slovenia and Serbia hold SA8000 certification.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Open supply chain3 stars

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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.

How grades are decided

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 rightsMost of its products are made in countries such as China and Thailand, 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 (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 2

  • Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
  • Red flag: Hidden supply chain, mostly in countries with poor worker rights

Stars it would earn as Good

None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars

Where it's made

Zojirushi names some of the countries it makes in: Japan, China and Thailand. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.

Where it's made, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
ChinaNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
JapanStrong protectionsClose to a living wageLow
ThailandNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
VietnamUsual for the industrySystematic violationsWell below a living wageModerate
IndiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageHigh
PolandUsual for the industryRegular violationsClose to a living wageModerate
IndonesiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageModerate
MalaysiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate

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.

Research notes Zojirushi's FY2025 annual securities report names five production sites: three plants of Zojirushi Factory Japan (Daito and Fukumachi in Osaka, and Shiga), a 51%-owned cooking appliance plant in Shenzhen, China, and its 49%-owned Thai affiliate Union Zojirushi. No output split or outsourcing share is published. It lists respect for human rights and a sustainable supply chain as priorities, but publishes no supplier list, social audit results or wage information.

What independent sources say

SourceResultDetails
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion ReportNot coveredBaptist World Aid's ratings do not assess kitchen appliance makers. View
Business & Human Rights Resource CentreNot listedNo labour abuse reports or response requests concerning Zojirushi were found on the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. View

Sources and actions

Sources 4

Show all 4 sources
  1. Zojirushi annual securities report FY ended Nov 2025 (EDINET text, edinetdb) · search the archive · 1,515 consolidated employees; plants in Daito, Fukumachi (Osaka), Shiga; Shenzhen plant (51%); Union Zojirushi Thailand (49%)
  2. Zojirushi sustainability disclosures (edinetdb) · search the archive · CSR manual covers non-discrimination and fair dealing with suppliers; no supplier audits or code described
  3. Zojirushi vs Tiger rice cookers in Australia (MINIMARU) · search the archive · Some models made in Japan, others in a Zojirushi factory in China; sold at MINIMARU stores in Melbourne

Published by Zojirushi or its owner

  1. About Zojirushi (zojirushi.com) · search the archive · Osaka company; Osaka and Shiga plants; Union Zojirushi (Thailand) and other overseas subsidiaries

Company details

Headquarters
Japan
Employees
About 1,515
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Zojirushi ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/zojirushi, 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?

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