Sedex Certification - Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA)

SMETA Audit - Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit

Social and ethical audit

Social and ethical audit

WHAT IS A SMETA AUDIT? 

SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit), the most widely used audit in the world, is a tool businesses use to enhance working conditions and environmental performance in their operations and supply chains. 

We provide honest and high-quality SMETA 2-pillar and 4-pillar audits to help companies build sustainable supply chains. 

WHAT IS SEDEX?

Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) is a global platform focused on responsible business practices, with 20 years of experience in making supply chains more socially and environmentally sustainable. They offer technology, data, assessment tools, and services to help businesses manage supply chain risks, increase transparency, and improve collaboration. Sedex also supports organizations in carrying out due diligence and meeting ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) requirements.

TÜV SÜD is proud to be a Sedex Affiliate Audit Company (AAC) and a member of the Sedex community. This affiliation allows us to conduct SMETA audits.

WHY are SMETA audits IMPORTANT?

Using SMETA, your company can identify good practices in employment conditions. Auditing using SMETA offers benefits such as providing evidence that your company has a commitment to ethical trading, which is increasingly valued by consumers. It ensures that you can legally claim your products are ‘fair trade’ and as such gain a competitive edge by demonstrating your ethical stance. You’ll also be able to assess and monitor the performance of high-risk suppliers and resolve issues found in the audit.

TÜV SÜD SMETA AUDITING services

TÜV SÜD is one of the Sedex Affiliate Audit Companies (AAC) and is authorized to conduct both SMETA audit and Sedex Virtual Assessment. We can conduct both SMETA-2 pillar and SMETA-4 pillar audits.

SMETA 2-pillar Audit:

  • Labour Standards
  • Health and Safety
  • Additional Elements
    • Universal Rights covering UNGP
    • Management Systems
    • Entitlement to Work
    • Subcontracting and Homeworking
    • Shortened Environment Assessment

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

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

Key Benefits of SMETA Audits

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

Ensures Compliance: SMETA audits help you comply with labor 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 organization’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 TÜV SÜD 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 recognized 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. 

Customized 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 standardized 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 audit experts. 


Contact us today


Alberto Sartori

“TÜV SÜD is an international and trusted partner, strategically focused on enhancing supply chain integrity through a rigorous and comprehensive SMETA audit methodology. With our global presence and experienced auditors, we ensure ethical trade practices and business excellence, helping you build a sustainable and responsible supply chain."

Alberto Sartori

Global Product Manager - Social Area, TÜV SÜD Business Assurance

 

SMETA in just 7 steps

SMETA

Graphic: 7 steps to SMETA

 

Frequently Asked questions

  • 1. What is SEDEX and how is it used in supply chain management?

    SEDEX (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) is a global membership organization that provides one of the world’s leading platforms for managing and sharing ethical supply chain data. It is not a standard-setting body, but rather a collaborative platform that helps companies improve transparency and manage risks associated with labor rights, health & safety, environmental impact, and business ethics. 

    In supply chain management, SEDEX is used to: 

    • Collect and store data on ethical and responsible business practices.
    • Enable suppliers to share ethical audit results (such as SMETA) with multiple buyers.
    • Help buyers assess risk and monitor compliance within their supply chains.
    • Encourage continuous improvement across tiers of suppliers.
  • 2. What is a SMETA audit and how does it differ from other ethical audits?

    SMETA (SEDEX Members Ethical Trade Audit) is an audit methodology developed by SEDEX members to provide a standardized, widely accepted approach to evaluating ethical performance in supply chains, allowing comparability across suppliers and industries. It is one of the most commonly used social audit formats in the world. 

    Key features that differentiate SMETA from other ethical audits: 

    • Standardization: SMETA does not have its own audit standard, however it is based on best practices from International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions and the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code.
    • Non-certification: Unlike other social audits (e.g., SA8000), SMETA is not a certification program. It results in a detailed audit report and Corrective Action Plan (CAPR) shared via the SEDEX platform.
    • Sharing mechanism: Suppliers can decide to share the audit outcomes with multiple buyers, reducing audit fatigue and avoiding duplication.
    • Pillar approach: SMETA audits can have a limited or extended scope (see question 5).
  • 3. Is SEDEX a certification body?

    SEDEX is not a certification body. It does not issue certifications or compliance seals. Instead, SEDEX provides a platform for storing and sharing information related to: 

    • Ethical audit reports (including, but not limited to SMETA)
    • Corrective actions
    • Self-assessments
    • Risk assessments

    The audits conducted (e.g., SMETA) are informational tools, not certifications. The purpose is to promote transparency and facilitate due diligence rather than endorse compliance.

     

  • 4. Who typically requests or requires a SMETA audit - buyers, suppliers, or regulatory bodies?

    SMETA audits are often requested by buyers, especially large retailers, importers, or brands seeking ethical assurance from their supply chain partners. These requests are typically cascaded to suppliers as part of a broader responsible sourcing policy or Code of Conduct. 

    Supplier companies (manufacturers, farms, service providers) normally request SMETA audits to demonstrate ethical practices and compliance to their customer requests. They may also proactively undergo audits to show their commitment to ethical practices and attract more business. 

    Regulatory bodies generally do not require SMETA specifically, although regulatory compliance elements (such as labor law adherence) are part of the audit.

     

  • 5. What are the main areas covered in a SMETA audit?

    SMETA audits are structured around 2-pillar or 4-pillar frameworks: 

    2-Pillar SMETA (mandatory): 

         1. Labor Standards – Covers workers’ rights, fair wages, working hours, discrimination, freedom of association, etc.

         2. Health & Safety – Includes workplace conditions, emergency preparedness, accident prevention, and hygiene. 

    4-Pillar SMETA (optional but increasingly common): 

         3. Environment (Extended) – Evaluates environmental impact, waste management, energy use, and legal compliance.

         4. Business Ethics – Reviews policies and practices related to corruption, bribery, and ethical business behavior.

  • 6. What is the process for requesting and conducting a SMETA audit?
    • A buyer (brand/retailer) requests that a supplier undergo a SMETA audit. 
    • The supplier registers on the Sedex platform and fills out a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). These steps must be completed prior to the onsite audit. 
    • The supplier chooses an approved third-party audit firm (such as TÜV SÜD) and schedules a date for the SMETA audit. IMPORTANT: audits are often announced, but they could also be semi-announced or unannounced depending on buyer requirements. 
    • The supplier gathers documents and prepares for the audit (e.g., HR records, health & safety procedures, working conditions, payroll records). 
    • The audit typically takes a minimum of 1 day on-site, depending on facility size and number of pillars. It always includes a combination of activities:  
    • Opening meeting with management 
    • Document review: payroll, contracts, hours worked, health & safety logs, etc. 
    • Site inspection: factory floor, dormitories, canteens, restrooms, etc. 
    • Worker interviews: confidential chats with randomly selected workers. 
    • Closing meeting: summary of findings presented to management. 
    • The auditor compiles findings into a SMETA Audit Report and Corrective Action Plan Report (CAPR), which are uploaded on the Sedex platform after review and approval by a quality control team. 
    • The supplier decides which buyers / clients are granted access to the report on the platform.  
    • If any non-compliances are found, the supplier implements corrective actions by set deadlines and uploads evidence (photos, records, etc.) on the platform. In some circumstances, the supplier may be required to undergo a follow-up audit for verification. 
    • Buyers and suppliers can use the audit outcomes to improve practices, monitor risk, and build a more ethical supply chain. Re-audits may be required depending on the buyer requirements or risk level.

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