SMETA: Documenting social responsibility and ethical behavior
SEDEX is a nonprofit organization, whose headquarter is established in London. All the companies in any location can apply for the membership. SEDEX has won the favor of many large retailers and manufacturers. Many retailers, supermarkets, brand owners, suppliers and other organizations will ask cooperated farms, factories and manufactures to perform SMETA in order to be in line with the requirements of relevant ethical standards. Audit results can be recognized and shared by SEDEX membership. Thus, suppliers accept to conduct SEDEX inspection, which can avoid a lot of repeated audits from customers.
SMETA is Sedex’s social auditing standard that businesses can use to assess a supplier’s working conditions, across the areas of labor, health and safety, environment and business ethics.