The Sedex database stores results from SMETA audits of social, ethical and sustainable business activities throughout the supply chain.
What’s it all about?
- What is Sedex?
- What is SMETA?
- Main fields of Sedex certification
The member organisation Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) maintains a data platform that ensures transparency in sustainability management for companies. The Sedex database stores the results of social audits, known as SMETA, where companies are audited along the entire supply chain for social, ethical and sustainable business activities.
What is SMETA?
SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) is a procedure developed by Sedex for audits in ethical retail and wholesale. Companies receive Sedex certification on completion of a successful SMETA social audit.
Sedex certification focuses on four main fields:
- Working standards: Review of working conditions to ensure that they meet nationally applicable legislation. A central aspect here is the fair treatment of employees.
- Health and safety: Investigation into whether the legally required health and safety measures effectively ensure safe and healthy working.
- Environment: Checks whether environmental regulations and sustainable practices in business processes are adhered to and applied.
- Business ethics: Assessment of corporate management and business ethics with regard to transparency and adherence to ethical standards.
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