SEDEX SMETA 6.0 Audits- Pillar 2 & Pillar 4

SMETA 6.0 2-Pillar & 4-Pillar Audits

Ensuring Ethical Business Practices and Social Accountability

Vektors offers comprehensive support for SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) 6.0 audits, enabling organizations to demonstrate ethical and socially responsible practices across their operations and supply chains.

What is SMETA?

SMETA is an internationally recognized auditing methodology developed by Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange). It is not a certification but a social audit protocol designed to assess a site’s adherence to labor, health, safety, environmental, and ethical standards. SMETA audits help companies and their suppliers identify, address, and manage key social compliance risks.

SMETA 2-Pillar Audit

This is the baseline audit protocol required for most Sedex members. It includes:

Core Pillars:

Labour Standards

Additional Elements:

Universal Rights Coverage (including UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights)
Management Systems
Entitlement to Work
Subcontracting and Homeworking
Environment (Shortened Assessment)

Health & Safety

The 2-Pillar audit is aligned with the ETI Base Code (Ethical Trading Initiative) and focuses on identifying risks related to workplace rights and safety.

SMETA 4-Pillar Audit

This is an enhanced audit protocol that includes all the components of the 2-Pillar audit, plus two additional areas of focus. The 4-Pillar audit comprises of the followings:

Labour Standards
Health & Safety
Environment (Extended Assessment) Replaces the shortened environmental assessment in the 2-Pillar audit
Business Ethics

The 4-Pillar audit is often requested by buyers with more comprehensive corporate social responsibility (CSR) requirements, providing deeper insights into a company’s ethical and environmental practices.

Do SMETA Audits Lead to Certification?

No, Sedex does not issue a certification!
SMETA is an audit methodology rather than a certification scheme. Completion of a SMETA audit results in an audit report and a Corrective Action Plan (CAP), which are uploaded to the Sedex platform and shared with authorized stakeholders. The audit demonstrates your commitment to ethical trade but does not culminate in a certificate from Sedex.

Why Choose Vektors for Your SMETA Audit Preparation?

With over 24 years of experience in social compliance, sustainability, and international standards, Vektors brings in-depth expertise in:

Gap analysis and pre-audit readiness
Documentation and evidence alignment with SMETA 6.0 requirements
On-site training for employees and management
Continuous improvement plans based on Corrective Action Reports
Audit facilitation with Sedex-approved auditors