We see audits as an opportunity to continually improve our operations and the way we conduct business. We use a similar approach for our own production units and we highly encourage our suppliers to reapply this practice with their own suppliers, so we can jointly learn about our supply chains and make them more robust and competitive.

Essity selected the SMETA audit (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) as the methodology of choice. SMETA is the most used and the well-known social audit standard and it was created to provide a central agreed audit protocol, which can be safely shared via the Sedex online platform. Essity requires SMETA 4-pillar audits. A SMETA 4-pillar audit includes labor standards, health & safety, entitlement to work, subcontracting, environment and business practices.