Sedex

The Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex) is a not-for-profit, membership organization that leads work with buyers and suppliers to deliver improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains. Sedex was founded in 2001 by a group of retailers to drive convergence in social audit standards and monitoring practices. Sedex aims to ease the auditing burden on suppliers through the sharing of audit reports and to drive improvements in supply chain standards.

SMETA

SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) is the audit methodology created by the Sedex membership to give a central agreed audit protocol, which can be confidently shared. SMETA is the most widely accepted audit protocol/methodology today.  Global acceptance by brands and retailers has allowed SMETA to be preferred by owners of supply chains and by producers, manufacturers, processors, growers in a wide variety of industries.

SMETA 2 and 4 Pillar audits rely on a management system auditing approach to confirming compliance by a facility.  2 and 4 Pillar audits are based on International Labor Standards as well as local laws of the country where a facility is present as well as the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code.  The ETI organization has been a driving force for 20 years committed to social and ethical improvements in all supply chains.

The 4 pillars of SMETA

A SMETA 2-Pillar audit includes the mandatory 2 pillars of

  1. Labor Standards and
  2. Health and Safety regulations.

Additionally, 2 Pillar audits involve elements of Management Systems, Universal Rights covering UNGP, Entitlement to Work, Subcontracting and Homeworking, Environment Assessment (condensed)

A SMETA 4-Pillar audit includes the same elements above plus the additional pillars of

  1. The Environment (extended assessment – replaces condensed), and
  2. Business Ethics.

These additional pillars may not be required for all Sedex members as many facilities decisions for 2 or 4 Pillar are driven by customer requirements.

Why Partner With Accordia?

Accordia is a SEDEX Affiliate Audit Company (AAC).  Only audit companies with a Sedex Affiliate Auditor account can conduct SMETA audits and access the functionalities and benefits of the Sedex systems.

Only audit firms that are also members of the Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors (APSCA) are given the opportunity to be a SEDEX Affiliated Audit Company.

  • Accordia is one of the first Full Member Firms of APSCA (awarded Dec 2019)
  • CSR auditing has been and continues to be our MAIN business for 20+ years
  • We conduct audits in all major sourcing, high risk countries
  • Accordia is a member of the SEDEX Associate Auditor Group since 2011
  • Accordia is a Certification Body evidencing strong integrity, professionalism, confidentiality and adherence to international accreditation requirements

STEPS to Successful SMETA Audit Completion

Call us and our Team will guide you through the process

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