SMETA, a non-certification social audit scheme developed by the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (SEDEX), is one of the premiere options for companies seeking to measure their social compliance and demonstrate to customers that products are sustainably and responsibly sourced.

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​Brands and retailers see the benefit of protecting their brand with social audits and controls. SMETA, a non-certification social audit scheme developed by the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (SEDEX), is one of the premiere options for companies seeking to measure their social compliance in the areas of labor, health and safety, environment, and business ethics against international standards and local law. SMETA is designed for suppliers to share one audit with multiple customers; SEDEX allows members to upload their SMETA report directly to the SEDEX database where members can publish the report to their requesting customers, reducing duplication of effort.

How can you build trust and visibility in your supply chain?

Social responsibility goes beyond an organization’s own activities and the boundaries of its facilities. Increasingly, organizations are expected to adopt and demonstrate responsible supply chain practices. SMETA is a non-certification scheme designed to ease the burden on suppliers facing multiple audits, questionnaires and certifications. SMETA, which is based on the ETI (Ethical Trade Initiative) Base Code and additional elements derived from international standards, can help suppliers drive improvements in the ethical performance of their global supply chain. 

DNV is one of only 9 Affiliate Audit Companies (AACs) approved by Sedex to deliver virtual assessments and has been central in the development process together with other providers.

Sedex Virtual Assessment is aligned with SMETA and provides a practical alternative where SMETA audits cannot take place. The new delivery mode from Sedex ensures continuity in a time of crisis as well as contributing to progress long-term. Digital solutions developed for virtual assessment can also be applied and supplement physical audits once those are again allowed.

DNV is proud to offer both the 2-Pillar SMETA (Labor Standards and Health and Safety) and the 4-Pillar SMETA (2 Pillar plus Environment and Business Ethics). These audits help protect workers and companies by addressing issues such as child labor, forced labor, unsafe work standards, excessive working hours, and more. All our Lead Auditors are APSCA-registered and DNV has highly qualified and experienced auditors available worldwide to perform SMETAs across regions and languages. The DNV team is prepared and eager to work with every customer to ensure they understand the needs and requirements of SMETA before proceeding with the audit. We know that choosing a partner for SMETA can be overwhelming, especially since SMETA differs from commonly recognized certification schemes. We have built our company on over 150 years of trust and look forward to proving to you why that trust is warranted.