SEDEX Audit – Supplier Ethical Data Exchange
Sedex is a not for profit, membership organisation which is dedicated to driving improvements in ethical and responsible business practices in global supply chains. Through its secure online data base, Sedex shares ethical supply chain data so that brands and retailers can see how their suppliers are meeting their social and ethical responsibilities. Sedex currently has more than 36,000 members in over 150 countries, making it a truly global organisation.
Sedex aims to achieve two important things:
- Ease the burden on suppliers by reducing the need for numerous audits, questionnaires and certifications.
- Improve the ethical performance of global supply chains.
What this means is that suppliers can have audits performed at their sites that check that they are meeting all of their social and ethical responsibilities in terms of employees and the working environment.
The audit is uploaded to the Sedex platform so that the supplier’s customers can view the audit results and identify and help to solve any issues.
SEDEX ‘s core product is Sedex Advance, a secure, online database which allows members to store, share and report on information in four key areas:
- Labour Standards
- Health & Safety
- The Environment
- Business Ethics
Benefits for a buyer
Monitoring suppliers across a nationwide or global supply chain can be difficult. It is no longer as straight forward as choosing a supply chain based upon price, quality and delivery times. There is a duty of care to both clients and customers to ensure that those suppliers are working in an ethical way and taking their corporate social responsibility seriously.
Independent audits undertaken by Accredium Global Compliance Services LLP and Uploaded on Sedex can verify suppliers are operating correctly and responsibly. All audits are performed by qualified, accredited and experienced auditors working to SMETA guidelines, ensuring that the very highest standards have been followed.
Benefits for a supplier
It is essential that suppliers can demonstrate to their customers that ethical trade and corporate social responsibility is taken seriously. An ethical trade audit, unloaded onto Sedex , is a convenient and practical means to do this in a cost efficient, transparent manner. Supplier members of Sedex can share data with multiple customers. This demonstrates compliance, reduces audit costs and is an efficient means of communication.