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What is SMETA Certification?

Sustainability:

What is SMETA Certification?

SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) Certification is a supply chain ethical auditing standard developed by Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange).

It is widely used around the world to assess and improve corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in companies and suppliers.

Main pillars of SMETA

SMETA is based on four main pillars: labor, health and safety, environment, and legal issues. It includes a detailed assessment of company policies and practices, as well as an “on-site” verification of working conditions, with emphasis on the areas of greatest risk, such as overtime, wages and benefits, discrimination, freedom of association, and harassment.

One of the key advantages of SMETA Certification is that it is recognized by many large global companies as an acceptable standard for the ethical auditing of suppliers. This means that if a company is SMETA certified, it can be considered eligible to work with these global companies, which can be a great business opportunity.

Another advantage is that SMETA Certification is highly adaptable. It can be used to evaluate companies and suppliers in all industries and sizes, from small local companies to large global corporations. In addition, it can also be used in conjunction with other standards and management systems, such as the ISO 14001 standard for the environment and the OHSAS 18001 standard for health and safety.

SMETA, an ethical audit

In short, SMETA Certification is a supply chain ethical auditing standard developed by Sedex. It is widely used around the world to assess and improve corporate social responsibility practices in companies and suppliers. It is recognized by many large global companies as an acceptable standard for the ethical auditing of suppliers, is highly adaptable, and can be used in conjunction with other standards and management systems.

Guarantee of working conditions

In addition, SMETA Certification can also be used as a way to ensure that working conditions in factories are safe and fair for workers, which is important for building an ethical and sustainable supply chain. SMETA auditing is performed by independent, trained auditors to assess working conditions and identify any problems or violations of ethical standards.

Implementing ethical practices can also have financial benefits for companies, such as improved brand image, increased operational efficiency, and reduced legal and reputational risks. In addition, many companies are becoming increasingly aware of the social and environmental impact of their activities and are looking for ways to improve their ethical practices.

SMETA Certification is also a way of ensuring that companies comply with applicable laws and regulations. This includes local labor and environmental laws, as well as international norms and standards for social responsibility.

However, it is important to note that SMETA Certification does not guarantee that a company has perfect ethical practices, but rather that the company is striving to improve and ensure fair and ethical working conditions. It is important that companies continue to monitor and improve their ethical practices and social responsibility even after achieving SMETA certification.

In summary, SMETA Certification is an important tool for companies in the textile and clothing manufacturing industry to evaluate and improve their ethical practices and social responsibility. It can be used to ensure safe and fair working conditions for workers and help companies comply with applicable regulations and laws. It is important that companies continue to monitor and improve their ethical practices and social responsibility even after achieving SMETA certification.