Sedex, or the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange, is a membership organization that promotes responsible sourcing practices in global supply chains. Its audit provides a framework for companies to assess their ethical and social responsibility performance, leading to increased transparency and accountability.
The Sedex Audit process involves four pillars: Labor Standards, Health and Safety, Environmental Performance, and Business Ethics. Each of these pillars has a set of criteria that organizations must follow and report on to attain Sedex certification.
The Labor Standards pillar focuses on protecting workers’ rights, such as working hours, child labour, and forced labour, while the Health & Safety pillar focuses on workplaces’ safety and hygiene standards.
The Environmental Performance pillar involves minimizing the impact of business operations on the environment. Finally, the Business Ethics pillar safeguards against corruption, bribery, and other unethical conduct.