Social audits

Corporate Social Responsibility audits

Supply chains are coming under intense scrutiny as consumers seek to hold companies accountable for workplace conditions. Bureau Veritas performs independent social responsibility audits to industry standards or customized to client needs.

Today, it is crucial for companies to be aware of what is happening in their supply chains, and have processes in place to manage social responsibility risks. Social responsibility is a key element of the business value proposition, and failure in this regard can severely impact financial results and brand image.

Bureau Veritas provides independent social responsibility audits to help brands understand the key sustainability issues affecting their business. Companies are better equipped to help their suppliers improve, as well as provide accurate social sustainability reporting. 

Key benefits 

  • Raise awareness

    of social responsibility compliance risks

  • Leverage real-time data

    to enhance decision-making

  • Enhance working conditions

    for a healthier, more productive workforce

  • Benefit from Bureau Veritas’ local auditors

    who understand culture, practices and regulations

  • Improve brand image by

    communicating about production processes

An approach tailored for your supply chain

Bureau Veritas uses a variety of social responsibility standards to evaluate suppliers, including corporate Code of Conduct audits and a range of industry standards. To facilitate customized approaches, we have developed a social compliance checklist that includes ratings and scoring. This checklist can be tailored to your specific needs with modules covering issues such as anti-bribery, data protection and common environmental and health and safety topics. Customized social responsibility audits are also carried out using company-developed checklists and rating models.

SA 8000: world-leading social responsibility certification standard

Established in 1997, the SA 8000 standard helps certified organizations commit to the fair treatment of employees. SA 8000 measures social performance in eight key areas: child labor, forced labor, health & safety, freedom of association and collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours and remuneration. It is anchored by a management system element that drives continual improvement in each area. SA8000 CERTIFICATION PROCESS 

SMETA audit: developing responsible business practices globally

Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA) is one of the most widely used ethical audit formats in the world. SMETA offers robust ethical audits to guide companies on selecting suppliers that work in an ethical manner. Its four-pillar methodology facilitates high-quality audits around Labor, Health & Safety, Environment and Business Ethics. The audits are designed as a cost-effective solution for suppliers to share with any customer, avoiding duplication. 
Sedex virtual assessment 

Raising working conditions in critical industries

Bureau Veritas supports continuous improvement in social compliance across a range of industries identified as critical by NGOs and consumers. We offer supply chain audits to standards developed by industry bodies in chemicals, metals and minerals and pharmaceuticals. To address Health & Safety and human rights concerns in the fashion industry, Bureau Veritas carries out unexpected social responsibility audits during off-hours to ensure clothing production facilities are closed.

3,000+SMETA audits carried out each year

Related documents

WEBINAR: Using social compliance audits to ensure ethical sourcing across your supply chain
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