Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange)

What is Sedex?

Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex) is the largest collaborative platform for sharing ethical supply chain data. It is sometimes referred to as SMETA, or incorrectly referred to as Sedex certification. It’s a globally recognized innovative and effective supply chain management solution, helping to reduce risk, protect company reputations and improve supply chain practices.

Through recognized assessment schemes, and a secure online database (Sedex Advance) to store and share audit reports, buyers (A member), buyers/suppliers (AB member) or suppliers (B Member) can initiate the Sedex audit and access the reports.

Sedex’s aim is:

To drive improvements in ethical performance
Ease the burden on suppliers facing multiple audits, questionnaires and certifications

And they partner with audit firms like BSI to deliver on this.

Benefits of a Sedex audit

Sedex has over 60,000 members in 180 countries, across 35 industry sectors, including food, agriculture, financial services, clothing and apparel, packaging and chemicals. The benefits for Sedex members include:

Buyers

Visibility: keep track of supplier performance - identify risks and spot improvements
Scalable: whether you work with thousands of suppliers or just a handful, Sedex Advance can be tailored to meet your needs

Suppliers

Save time and resource: a simple and cost-effective way to share your responsible sourcing information with multiple buyers
Efficiency: complete one self-assessment questionnaire and share your audit reports and certifications so your business can avoid repeating the same tasks and spend the time focused on improvements
Trusted: the Sedex system is secure and confidential, and suppliers have complete control over who can view their data

Sedex Virtual Assessments (SVA)

Sedex Virtual Assessment (SVA) is a due diligence tool, enabling remote assessments of sites and workplaces. Aligned with SMETA, it provides a practical alternative to on-site audits, aiming to provide as much insight into working conditions at a site as possible.

BSI is one of the few affiliate audit companies, which are approved to conduct SVA. BSI uses immersive technology solutions to conduct Sedex Virtual Assessments.

Why BSI?

Working with BSI offers an unparalleled partnership that adds value and unlocks your organization’s potential. We occupy a unique position: a trusted brand with a powerful reputation, reinforced by our National Standards Body status and century-plus guardianship of excellence We have a peerless track record in auditing organizations around the world.

Our collective expertise and overview of audits across organizations, supply chains, industries and global locations qualifies us to compare and benchmark performance. We leverage this insight to inspire trust in responsible business practice, for a more resilient global supply chain.

Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange)

Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange)

BSI Sedex Services brochure