Sedex

Detailed introduction

Sedex Supplier Ethical Data Exchange

Standard Introduction

Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) is the world's leading platform for sharing ethical trade data across supply chains. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in London, UK, Sedex uses its proprietary SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) methodology to help companies assess and manage social responsibility risks in their supply chains, enabling an efficient compliance model where one audit serves multiple stakeholders.

Review Content

Labor Standards:Voluntary employment, freedom of association, prohibition of child labor, living wage compliance, and working hours compliance.
Health & Safety:Workplace Safety Conditions, Fire Safety, First Aid Facilities, Occupational Disease Protection
Environment Management:Environmental Impact Assessment, Waste Management, Water Resource Management, Carbon Emission Control
Business EthicsAnti-corruption, fair competition, intellectual property protection, data privacy

Audit Process

Register as a Sedex member (Buyer or Supplier)
Complete the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) on Sedex
Engage a Sedex-accredited auditor for an on-site SMETA audit
Audit type options: Pillar 2 (Labor + Health & Safety) or Pillar 4 (Environment & Business Ethics).
Upload audit reports to Sedex; authorized customers can view them directly.
Submit a corrective action plan for non-conformities and complete rectification within the specified timeframe.

Fee Details

Sedex membership fees range from hundreds to thousands of pounds, depending on company size. SMETA audit costs vary by factory size and the number of audit pillars, typically between 20,000 and 50,000 RMB.

Accredited Institutions

SMETA audits must be conducted by Sedex-approved Audit Agencies (AAs), including leading global firms such as SGS, TÜV Rheinland, Intertek, and Elevate.

Certificate validity period

SMETA audit reports do not have a fixed validity period, but most buyers require re-audits every 12 to 24 months. Audit results can be continuously updated and shared on the Sedex platform.