SMETA Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audits UK

What is a SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) audit?

SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) is a tool used by businesses to understand and improve working conditions and environmental performance in their own operations and supply chains. SMETA is the most widely used audit in the world. Designed to help protect workers from unsafe conditions, overwork, discrimination, low pay, and forced labour, SMETA also examines environmental performance and ethics.

Why is SMETA Important?

Ethical and responsible business practices are more important than ever. But how do you demonstrate your ethical values? As an approved Sedex Affiliate Audit Company, TÜV SÜD is proud to conduct SMETA audits for organisations who prioritise their ethical and environmental values. To help improve performance in these areas, we’ll provide you or your supplier with a Corrective Action Plan.

SMETA provides evidence that your company is committed to ethical trading, which is increasingly valued by consumers and can facilitate compliance with legislation. You can also legally claim your products are fair trade giving you a competitive edge with ethical consumers. You’ll be able to assess and monitor the performance of high-risk suppliers and resolve issues found in the audit.

Ethical transparency is important in today's global marketplace. Our SMETA audits help your business demonstrate their commitment to responsible practices and provide actionable insights to drive continuous improvement in their supply chains.

Ewa Kostowska-Cupak, Head of Assurance Services

What is Sedex?

Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) is a global technology company focused on helping your business conduct responsible business practices. The company has 20 years of experience in making supply chains more socially and environmentally sustainable. Sedex Platform is their central hub for supply chain assessment where you can store, analyse, share and report on sustainability practices.

Sedex offer technology, data, assessment tools, and services to help businesses manage supply chain risks, increase transparency, and improve collaboration. It also supports organisations in carrying out due diligence and meeting ESG (environmental, social, and governance) requirements.

Sedex approved Affiliate Audit Company (AAC)

TÜV SÜD is proud to be a Sedex approved Affiliate Audit Company (AAC) and a member of the Sedex community which allows us to conduct SMETA audits. We are also members of APSCA (Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors) which brings together auditors who specialise in Social Compliance Audits. APSCA plays an important role in improving working conditions across global supply chains. It aims to maintain and increase the value, quality, consistency, and integrity of the industry by establishing a professional certification program and processes for social compliance auditors.

Protect workers in your supply chain with SMETA

TÜV SÜD SMETA Auditing Services

As one of the Sedex Affiliate Audit Companies (AAC), TÜV SÜD is authorised to conduct both SMETA audits and Sedex Virtual Assessments.

The SMETA methodology focuses on several aspects (pillars) that characterise a sustainable business related to working conditions, health and safety in the workplace, environmental compliance and business ethics.

We can conduct both SMETA-2 pillar and SMETA-4 pillar audits.

SMETA 2-Pillar Audit

A SMETA 2-pillar audit comprises:

Labour Standards
Health and Safety
Additional Elements

Universal Rights covering UNGP
Management Systems
Entitlement to Work
Subcontracting and Homeworking
Shortened Environment Assessment

SMETA 4-Pillar Audit

A SMETA 4-pillar audit includes all the elements found in the 2-pillar audit and in addition the following:

Environment (extended) – this replaces the Environment (shortened) section detailed above
Business Ethics

Ready to show your commitment to ethical trade? Contact TÜV SÜD today to discuss how SMETA can help your business.

Key Benefits of SMETA Audits

Enhances Supply Chain Visibility: Gain detailed insights into working conditions, environmental practices, and ethical compliance within your organisation and its supply chain.

Ensures Compliance: SMETA audits help you comply with labour laws, health and safety standards, and ethical business practices. This reduces the risk of non-compliance penalties and supports adherence to international regulations.

Strengthens Brand Reputation: By demonstrating a commitment to ethical practices, a SMETA audit helps to bolster your organisation’s reputation, making it more attractive to socially conscious consumers and partners.

Improves Supplier Performance: SMETA provides a Corrective Action Plan to help improve supplier performance and resolve issues found in the audit.

Enables Continuous Improvement: Proactively addressing potential risks and areas for improvement identified in the audit can lead to operational efficiency and employee satisfaction.

Want to improve working conditions and environmental performance in your supply chain?

WHY CHOOSE TUV SUD FOR YOUR SMETA AUDIT?

Years of experience: Benefit from our decades of experience in delivering reliable SMETA audits. We match technical experts from our global network to your project needs.

Expert partnership: TÜV SÜD’s experts are recognised by authorities, both nationally and internationally, and have a history of completing successful audits across various industries.

Dedicated project manager: Enjoy the convenience of having a single point of contact with a dedicated project manager who ensures your audit project is managed efficiently and delivered on time.

Customised solutions: Receive tailored audit solutions that align with your specific business goals and compliance requirements.

International presence: Take advantage of our global reach, providing you with consistent and standardised audit practices across multiple regions, enhancing compliance and oversight.

If you want to understand and make improvements to working conditions and environmental performance in your business and supply chain, talk to our SMETA experts.

FAQs

Is SMETA certification mandatory?

No, SMETA is not a certification. It is an audit methodology that helps businesses demonstrate ethical practices to clients, stakeholders, or buyers. It is often required by companies as part of their supply chain due diligence.

Who CAN conduct A SMETA audit?

SMETA audits can only be conducted by an approved SEDEX Affiliate Audit Company, such as TÜV SÜD.

How long does a SMETA audit take?

The duration of a SMETA audit depends on the size and complexity of the organisation, the number of employees, and the scope of the audit. Typically, it can take 1-3 days.

What documents are required for a SMETA audit?

The documents commonly required include:

Employee records (payroll, working hours)
Health and safety policies and risk assessments
Environmental management records
Business ethics policies
Proof of legal compliance with local labour laws

What are the benefits of a SMETA audit?

Demonstrates ethical and social compliance to customers and stakeholders
Improves working conditions and employee satisfaction
Reduces risks in the supply chain
Enhances brand reputation and builds trust with clients

Is SMETA applicable to all industries?

Yes, SMETA audits can be applied across a variety of industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, retail, and services, as long as the business meets the relevant audit criteria.

What happens after the SMETA audit is completed?

After the audit:

A report is generated and shared with the company and relevant stakeholders via Sedex’s platform.

The organisation addresses any non-compliances identified during the audit.

A follow-up audit may be scheduled if necessary.

How often do SMETA audits need to be conducted?

The frequency depends on client or buyer requirements, but audits are typically conducted annually or biennially.

Can we conduct a SMETA audit in multiple countries?

Yes, we have a global network of auditors allowing us to conduct SMETA audits across various regions and countries.

What happens if my company fails a SMETA audit?

Failing a SMETA audit does not necessarily result in penalties but indicates areas of non-compliance that need improvement. You will receive a Corrective Action Plan (CAPR) to address these issues.

How much does a SMETA audit cost?

The cost varies based on factors such as the size and location of your organisation, the number of employees, and the scope of the audit. Contact us for a tailored quote.

How can I prepare for a SMETA audit?

Preparation tips:

Review Sedex and SMETA guidelines
Organise all required documents in advance
Conduct internal audits to identify potential non-compliances
Train your staff on compliance requirements and expectations

Why choose TÜV SÜD for your SMETA audit?

We are an experienced and accredited auditing body with a track record of conducting reliable and comprehensive SMETA audits worldwide. Our auditors provide actionable insights to help you meet your ethical goals.

Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA)