Keeping up with regulations! This is the challenge for many suppliers and companies who see the law changing and regulating their activity often for very good reasons.
When we think of a factory, of products being manufactured on a production line, the image is far from idyllic. In a society where individual responsibility towards the environment is increasingly important, change is happening on several levels, and it is being demanded of companies by consumer pressure.
Verification of working hours, compliance with health and safety standards, decent remuneration, respect for the environment during production, are among the criteria monitored during audits which aim to ensure a certain level of compliance from suppliers in terms of products and working conditions in factories, particularly in Asian countries.
THE AUDITED SUPPLIERS
Audits are increasingly being requested and managed by non-profit organizations.
Two organizations stand out for this type of approach:
SEDEX , an organization that defines compliance standards for suppliers and buyers, and BSCI, a system designed to make the supply chain transparent and ethical. These organizations aim to empower businesses and support them in complying with current regulations. They establish information platforms and provide accreditation to competent companies, which can then be mandated to conduct supplier audits.
SEDEX audit
Sedex, in numbers, represents 74,000 companies worldwide that have chosen this organization to create more socially and environmentally sustainable supply chains . Sedex, or Supplier Ethical Data Exchange, is the platform for exchanging ethical data for suppliers.
The advantages of this approach are:
– Better visibility into the supply chain.
– Anticipate and assess supply chain risks to protect the brand and the company by optimizing internal resources while following legislation to improve performance.
– Know the legislation on sustainable development to avoid penalties and fines while still protecting the brand.
The audit related to this organization is the SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit), which includes:
– Health and safety
– Work standards
– Environment
– Ethics
Validation of this type of audit by a supplier helps to reassure and convince importers.
BSCI audit
The BSCI mandates accredited organizations to conduct audits , which must adhere to the specifications. It then assigns suppliers a rating from A to E. Once suppliers are audited and meet the 13 principles, the results are valid for one year.
– P 1: Social management system
– P 2: Worker participation and protection
– P 3: Rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining
– P 4: Absence of discrimination
– P 5: Fair remuneration
– P 6: Decent working hours
– P 7: Occupational health and safety
– P 8: No child labor
– P 9: Special protection for young workers
– P 10: No precarious employment
– P 11: No bonded labor
– P 12: Environmental protection
– P 13: Ethical business conduct
Each principle is rated from A to E, from exceptional to unacceptable.
The BSCI generates commitments to be kept in terms of ethical sourcing, assurance on the conditions of workers in supply chains, it strongly suggests improving the brand's CSR report and fulfilling the legal obligations set by the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Charter on Human Rights.
Marketing Création prioritizes its productions with suppliers who comply with local laws and are BSCI audited, with a minimum rating of C (Acceptable) and ideally A (Exceptional). This approach aligns with our CSR objectives for over 5 years.