When you receive a request from your client to conduct a SMETA audit, you are faced with a number of options. After all, what options are there? Do you go for the SMETA 2-pillar or the 4-pillar audit? That can be a tough choice. In this article we explain what these two SMETA variants really are and we provide you with advice on choosing the one that is right for you.
SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit), Sedex's audit program, is a standardized and comprehensive assessment program to evaluate social responsibilities of suppliers and factories in the global supply chain. Currently, the Sedex database consists of more than 80,000 audit reports, making it the standard of all socio-ethical standards worldwide. As a result, duplicate audits and the accompanying audit fatigue are a thing of the past.
Difference between Smeta 2-pillar and 4-pillar audits
Two options are available within SMETA, namely the 2-pillar audit and the 4-pillar audit. The audits follow the SMETA standard and look at a diversity of ethical topics. These include working conditions, responsible sourcing, health and safety, environmental impact and business ethics.
The SMETA 4-pillar audit has the same origins as the SMETA 2-pillar audit, but the difference is in the scope and depth of the assessment. In fact, the SMETA 4-pillar audit is supplemented by environmental and ethics. Let's dive deeper into this.
What is a SMETA 2-pillar audit?
The SMETA 2-pillar audit focuses primarily on the main topics of “labor standards” and “health and safety” from the ETI Base Code:
Labor standards: this includes evaluating compliance with labor laws, working hours, wages, child labor, forced labor and worker welfare.
Health and safety: the assessment covers workplace conditions, safety procedures and the provision of a safe and healthy working environment.
This variant of the SMETA audit provides a basic assessment of key topics and serves as a starting point for many organizations to assess their suppliers' compliance with fundamental ethical standards.
What is a SMETA 4-pillar audit?
The SMETA 4-pillar audit goes a step further. In addition to focusing on the items in the scope of that of the 2-pillar audit, the expanded version also addresses “environmental impact” and “business ethics.
Environmental impact: this pillar includes environmental management practices, waste management, energy consumption, emissions and the organization's commitment to sustainable practices.
Business ethics: it focuses on the organization's commitment to ethical business practices, anti-corruption policies and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
SMETA's 4-pillar audit thus includes a more in-depth assessment of suppliers' performance on corporate responsibility and ethics. Because this variant of the SMETA audit looks at more aspects than working conditions, health and safety, it provides an even clearer picture of what is happening in the supply chain in socio-ethical terms.
SMETA 2-pillar or 4-pillar audit: our advice
The difference between the SMETA 2-pillar and 4-pillar audit is now clear. But which variant is best to go for with your organization? That depends on a number of specific requirements, including your objectives and customer demand.
Some organizations opt for the more comprehensive audit right away so they can get a clear picture of their suppliers' practices. Others actually start with the 2-pillar audit and work up to the 4-pillar variant from there as part of their continuous improvement process. But whatever you decide: with the SMETA audit, you're in the thick of sustainability. That's one thing for sure!
Need help making the right choice? Approven Partners will gladly advise you. Mail to hello@approven.partners.
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