What SMETA is and why buyers ask for it
SMETA — the Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit — is the most widely used ethical audit format in the world, developed by Sedex. It assesses a site against responsible business practices: how it treats workers, how it manages health and safety, its environmental practices and its business ethics. As supply-chain accountability has grown, SMETA has become a standard way for retailers and brands to check the ethics of their suppliers.
It is important to be precise about what SMETA is: it is an audit, not a certification. The deliverable is an audit report — not a certificate — and that report is usually shared with customers through the Sedex platform, where they use it for responsible-sourcing due diligence. Buyers increasingly ask suppliers for a recent SMETA audit as a condition of doing business.
What the audit covers
A SMETA audit is conducted as either a 2-pillar or 4-pillar audit:
- Labour Standards — working hours, wages, freedom of association, no forced or child labour
- Health & Safety — safe working conditions
- Environment (4-pillar) — environmental management practices
- Business Ethics (4-pillar) — anti-corruption and ethical conduct
The findings are documented in the audit report and shared with the buyers who rely on them.
How ABS helps
SMETA audits are carried out by Sedex-affiliated audit companies using APSCA-registered auditors; the current methodology is SMETA 7.0, introduced in 2024. ABS helps your site prepare for the audit and respond to it:
- Pre-audit gap check — we review your site against the pillars in scope, including working hours, wages, contracts, health and safety and, for 4-pillar audits, environment and business ethics.
- Records and evidence — we help you get the worker, payroll and safety records the auditor will ask for in order.
- Corrective-action support — before the audit, and afterwards to close any non-compliances the report raises.
Timeline & process
Because SMETA is an audit rather than a certification programme, readiness work is scoped around your site and the number of pillars in scope. Each engagement begins with a fixed-price scoping call and a proposal within 24 hours.
Common questions
Is SMETA a certification?
No. SMETA is an ethical audit methodology, and the deliverable is an audit report — not a certificate. The report is typically shared with customers through the Sedex platform for responsible-sourcing due diligence.
What does a SMETA audit cover?
It runs as a 2-pillar or 4-pillar audit. The core pillars are Labour Standards and Health & Safety; the 4-pillar version adds Environment and Business Ethics. It is especially relevant to manufacturers and their supply chains.
Who needs a SMETA audit?
Suppliers whose customers ask for it. SMETA has become a standard way for retailers and brands to check the ethics of their suppliers, and buyers increasingly ask for a recent SMETA audit, shared through the Sedex platform, as a condition of doing business.
How long does SMETA preparation take?
Because SMETA is an audit rather than a certification programme, readiness work is scoped around your site and the number of pillars in scope. Each engagement begins with a fixed-price scoping call and a proposal within 24 hours.
What does ABS do, and who carries out the SMETA audit?
ABS helps your site prepare for the audit and respond to it: a pre-audit gap check against the pillars in scope, the records and evidence the auditor will ask for, and corrective-action support before and after the audit. The audit is carried out by a Sedex-affiliated audit company using APSCA-registered auditors.
How often is a SMETA audit repeated?
There is no certificate period, because SMETA produces an audit report rather than a certificate. Your customers decide how often they want a new audit, and follow-up audits verify that non-compliances have been closed.
Which version of SMETA is current?
The current methodology is SMETA 7.0, launched in September 2024. SMETA 6.1 audits have not been permitted since 1 January 2025.
