The Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) is pleased to announce a public stakeholder consultation for SMETA 7.0, Sedex’s flagship social and environmental auditing methodology. This consultation falls under the SSCI’s Processing & Manufacturing and Primary Production scopes for the SSCI Social Compliance Benchmark. From 22nd September to 22 October 2025, we invite all stakeholders with an interest in ethical trade, human rights, and sustainability to participate and share their feedback.

This public consultation is an important step of the SSCI Benchmarking Process ensuring transparency by inviting interested stakeholders to review and comment on the assessment carried out by the SSCI and the independent Benchmark Leader. 

With a global network of over 90,000 businesses and 115,000 employment sites across 180 countries and 35 sectors, Sedex’s commitment to seeking SSCI recognition represents a major opportunity to drive alignment and build trust in responsible sourcing practices worldwide.

SMETA audits, managed by Sedex, were launched in 2004 by a coalition of UK retailers seeking to create a common social audit methodology that would improve quality and reduce duplication. Now in version 7.0, SMETA provides a robust onsite assessment tool for identifying risks related to labour, health and safety, environment, and business ethics. It benchmarks against local legislation and the ETI Base Code, ensuring consistent worker protections across industries and geographies.

How to Get Involved

To participate in the stakeholder consultation and receive Sedex’s report, fill in the short form below and email your questions and comments to the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative team till 22 October 2025.  

To view current SSCI Benchmark applicants and follow their progress, visit recognition.tcgfssci.com.

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