Is Sedex only for companies that are already B Corps?

No. Sedex is a supplier sustainability risk platform used by all kinds of companies to see and manage risk across their supply chains — B Corp evidence is just one of the things that data supports, alongside regulatory requirements like CSDDD and CSRD. Whether you’re certifying, recertifying, or simply want a clearer view of supplier risk, it works the same way.

What does Sedex do for our B Corp certification — and what doesn't it?

Sedex gives you consistent, independently verified data about your suppliers — the credible evidence the new standards ask for on worker rights, health and safety, environment and ethics. What it doesn’t do is certify you or advise you through the certification process; that stays with you and, if you have one, your B Corp consultant. Think of Sedex as the supplier-data layer underneath your certification, not the certification service itself.

What is a SMETA audit, and why does it matter here?

SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) is an independent, on-site assessment of a supplier’s labour standards, health and safety, environment and business ethics. Because a third party carries it out rather than the supplier declaring it themselves, it gives you verified proof of conditions at supplier sites — the kind of independent evidence the updated standards prioritise, rather than taking a supplier’s word for it.

Will using Sedex guarantee our B Corp certification?

No, Certification is B Lab’s decision, based on your whole company against all seven impact topics, not supplier data alone. What Sedex does is make the supply-chain evidence part easier to manage with easy to access to consistent, independently verified, and ready to present data.

How is this different from completing the assessment or surveying our suppliers ourselves?

You can absolutely gather this yourself, the difference is consistency and independence. Sedex standardises how every supplier reports, so you’re comparing like with like, and the audit data is verified externally rather than self-declared. That’s the gap between “we asked our suppliers and they said it’s fine” and evidence that holds up under scrutiny.

Over 100,000 companies worldwide trust Sedex

the 2025 b corp standards

Whats changed and where Sedex fits

No more trade-offs.

The old system gave you a single score out of 100, so a strong area could cover a weak one. Now there’s a minimum to hit in every area including how the people in your supply chain are treated.

Evidence, not answers.

Before, much of it was self-reported. Now, when B Lab reviews you, they want proof: records, audits and documents that back up what you’ve said.

Not one-and-done.

Certification now runs for five years, with a check-up audit 12, 24 or 36 months in. If you got through on spreadsheets and chased emails, you’ll be doing it all again, against a higher bar.

Where Sedex fits

Your supply chain lives in one place: human rights

B Lab looks at seven areas. Almost every supplier requirement sits under Human Rights — with environmental impact close behind. Here’s what you’d be able to show.

B Corp area	What you can show with Sedex
Human rights The supply chain topic — everything about your suppliers sits here	Supplier and country risk assessments, findings from independent audits, a prioritised list of which suppliers need attention, agreed action plans and progress records — plus tracing where your highest-risk materials actually come from.
Environmental stewardship Your impact on the planet, across your suppliers	Environmental data gathered from your suppliers, plus findings from SMETA’s four-pillar audit — covering energy and water use, waste, emissions, and chemical handling — and a way to work with suppliers on reducing their impact.
Fair work Your OWN workers — not your suppliers	This one is about the people you employ directly. Sedex still helps: your own sites can be audited on the same basis as any supplier, so the evidence you produce is consistent across the whole picture.

Sedex supports your B Corp journey — it doesn’t replace the certification process. B Lab verifies; Sedex gives you the evidence to make a strong case.

End-to-end social and environmental due diligence

Map your supply chain

Assess & score supplier risk

Audit with SMETA for credibility

Mitigate risk with corrective actions

Report results to stakeholders

Create visibility across all tiers, from direct suppliers to raw materials. Match your supplier list to our global network to unlock existing data on day one.

Sedex Platform Map Your Supply Chain (3)

Use Sedex’s risk assessment tools to score suppliers and sites objectively. We combine country, sector and site data with verified audit insights to highlight where to act first. Get a prioritised list you can action immediately.

Verify real conditions with SMETA, the world’s most used social audit methodology. Work with recognised audit companies worldwide, reduce duplicate checks and capture evidence stakeholders trust. Sedex also accepts other social audits to maximise coverage.

Turn findings into practical corrective action plans. Track evidence to close non-compliances and support suppliers with guidance that drives lasting improvement. See measurable change you can stand behind.

Export defensible evidence for regulators, customers and the board. Use ready-to-go reports and downloads to show progress, demonstrate due diligence and share results across teams in minutes. Built to align with global reporting needs.

Map your supply chain

Create visibility across all tiers, from direct suppliers to raw materials. Match your supplier list to our global network to unlock existing data on day one.

Assess & score supplier risk

Use Sedex’s risk assessment tools to score suppliers and sites objectively. We combine country, sector and site data with verified audit insights to highlight where to act first. Get a prioritised list you can action immediately.

Audit with SMETA for credibility

Verify real conditions with SMETA, the world’s most used social audit methodology. Work with recognised audit companies worldwide, reduce duplicate checks and capture evidence stakeholders trust. Sedex also accepts other social audits to maximise coverage.

Mitigate risk with corrective actions

Turn findings into practical corrective action plans. Track evidence to close non-compliances and support suppliers with guidance that drives lasting improvement. See measurable change you can stand behind.

Report results to stakeholders

Export defensible evidence for regulators, customers and the board. Use ready-to-go reports and downloads to show progress, demonstrate due diligence and share results across teams in minutes. Built to align with global reporting needs.

Sedex in numbers

20

+

Years of expertise

Trusted solutions built on decades of experience. So you can focus on growth, not guesswork.

100,000

+

Members

Join a global network of industry leaders driving sustainability and success.

180

Countries

Wherever you operate, we’ve got the insights to support your supply chain.

250,000

Issues resolved in 2025

Real improvements, not just reports—helping you build a better, safer supply chain.

The new B Corp standards ask for proof about your suppliers

Over 100,000 companies worldwide trust Sedex

Whats changed and where Sedex fits

No more trade-offs.

Evidence, not answers.

Not one-and-done.

Your supply chain lives in one place: human rights

End-to-end social and environmental due diligence

Map your supply chain

Assess & score supplier risk

Audit with SMETA for credibility

Mitigate risk with corrective actions

Report results to stakeholders

Sedex in numbers

20

100,000

180

250,000

FAQs

Not sure where you stand? Let’s take a look together.