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What is SEDEX?

All these are ethical business sourcing online platforms for assured supply chain management between customer and supplier. Each has their own set of guidelines to comply with laid down requirements around labour rights, Heath & safety, environment and business ethics.

SEDEX is a global membership organization that prides itself on making it simpler to do business that’s good for everyone.

SEDEX is one of the world’s largest collaborative platforms for sharing responsible sourcing data on supply chains, used by more than 50,000 members in over 150 countries.

Tens of thousands of companies use SEDEX to manage their performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics.

SEDEX services enable members to bring together many kinds of different data, standards and certifications, to make informed business decisions, and to drive continuous improvement across their value chains.

How SEDEX works?

SEDEX work in partnership with many of the world’s most recognizable brands and thousands of factories, producers and industry experts.

Working with the right standards, information and technologies, SEDEX believe that business can shape the future of global trade to have an increasingly positive impact worldwide.

Everything is designed to make it simpler for our members to do business that’s good for everyone.

Benefits of SEDEX Certification:

• Easy to access information or data at one secure place
• Develops Ethical business practices
• Maintain and manage business data or information properly
• Improves business efficiency of the organization
• Reduce workload and generate greater employee involvement

What SEDEX don’t do?

SEDEX Do Not Audit, and SEDEX Do Not Certify.

SEDEX create an independent framework through which responsible business can develop at global scale.

SMETA & the SSF

SMETA is one of the most widely used social audit procedures in the world. It provides a globally-recognized way to assess responsible supply chain activities, including labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics. These requirement combination termed as SMETA 4 Pillar.

SEDEX Stakeholder Forum (the SSF), the group that manages the ongoing development of SMETA and other related tools. The SSF is made up of working groups which include brands and retailers, NGOs, industry experts/associations and monitoring firms that are significantly involved in ethical trade auditing. It is currently active in the UK, China and Latin America.

To become SEDEX compliance Member A (Customer) is requesting Member B (Supplier) or Member AB (Supplier & Customer) for getting Audited against SMETA guidelines. It’s online platform which links B or AB member to Member A, who can see Audit reports, Audit Findings and Action taken on audit conducted at B or AB Member Manufacturing or Processing site.  A, B and AB are paid membership offered by SEDEX online platform.

There is no specific validity of such SEDEX audits, however it may be decided mutually by A, B of AB members.

How to prepare for SEDEX Certification?

You may appoint or hire competent consultant for SEDEX SMETA requirement OR Self-implement it as following:

• You must register online on SEDEX for becoming Member B or AB based on request received from Member A and pay online for membership.
• You can link SEDEX Registration Number provided by Member A.
• Carry out Gap Analysis to check the Gap between company planned things and achieved things.
• You may fill online SAQ (Self Assessment Questionnaire) comprising of more than 300 questions online on SEDEX platform in your membership domain to determine exact Gaps.
• Determining role, responsibility and authorities, Identify and assemble core group, Appointment of Team Leader to Lead SEDEX implementation.
• Check the document of the organization to ensure that the documentation fulfilled the compliance requirement
• Create various Policies required by SEDEX guidelines
• Management Review Meeting at defined intervals to monitor progress of Implementation.
• Application to Certification Body (List of Approved Certification body available on SEDEX website)
• On-Audit by Certification body Auditor
• Auditor Issues Non-Conformance through email and also upload on SEDEX portal.
• Non-conformance closure with evidence submit to Certification body also on SEDEX Portal.
• Issue a Certificate of Compliance by Certification body or Report Upload on SEDEX Portal.

Enclosed all guidelines below for ready Download, Read and Share.

• SMETA 6.1- Latest SEDEX guidelines for implementation.
• Guide to Risk Assessment
• Guidelines on Covid19

To know more about SEDEX Certification Process, SEDEX Approved Certification Body, SEDEX Consultants, Resources, anything else on SEDEX, please Chat with us Ask The Expert.