30 July 2020
BSI, the business improvement company is pleased to announce that it has been approved by Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) to conduct independent ethical supply chain management audits remotely.
Organizations have a responsibility to incorporate social, environmental and ethical operations throughout their business and as lockdown eases around many parts of the world, it’s important that the global supply chain can continue to deliver and demonstrate improvements in responsible and ethical business practices.
BSI has been authorized to conduct SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) for a number of years and is now one of the few organizations offering Sedex Virtual Assessments (SVA) due to the restrictions associated with COVID-19. To be approved by Sedex, BSI had to meet the additional technical requirements. SMETA is widely used as a social audit procedure and provides an internationally recognized way to assess responsible supply chain activities, including labour rights, health and safety, the environment and business ethics. SVA now provides an alternative approach, using virtual methods and reviews to give assurance about the social performance of an organization.
By being independently assessed by BSI’s expert auditors against the Sedex assessment criteria, suppliers can share their responsible sourcing information with multiple customers in an efficient and cost-effective way. Similarly, buyers can keep track of how their suppliers are performing, as well as identify risks and areas for improvement.
Ahmad Alkhatib, Assurance Business Development Director at BSI comments:
“A SVA provides a practical solution to help suppliers demonstrate to brands, customers and consumers that despite the changing business environment, the factory controls on manufacturing sites are safe for workers and that they’re not being exploited or deprived of their rights. It can also enable brands to review and monitor the social performance of their suppliers. Crucially, however, it can help drive improvements in the ethical performance of global supply chains.
“Supply chains by nature are complex and often span continents, therefore transparency and visibility is crucial to remain resilient. Organizations must continually evolve and enhance their ethical practices to inspire trust and protect their reputation.”
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