News from the CHSA: CHSA’s manufacturing members introduce ethical audit requirement

The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) has introduced an ethical audit requirement for members of its manufacturing accreditation schemes. The change was unanimously supported by all manufacturing scheme members at their recent Annual General Meetings.

The ethical audit is known as a SMETA Audit (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit, which has been used by UK retailers for many years to monitor their supply chains. More than 85,000 businesses from across the world have made Sedex their trusted partner in creating a more socially and environmentally sustainable supply chain.

The new requirement applies to all members of the CHSA’s Accreditation Schemes for Manufacturers of Soft Tissue, Plastic Sacks, Cotton Mops and Cleaning Chemicals. The minimum requirement will be a ‘2 Pillar SMETA Audit’, which covers labour standards and health and safety at the factories manufacturing CHSA Accredited Products. Compliance with labour laws, working conditions and the fair treatment of workers will be evaluated, and the workplace safety measures and occupational health standards will be assessed. The audit needs to be carried out by the end of 2025.

Lorcan Mekitarian, chair of the CHSA, explained: “Our members are committed to adhering to the highest standards in the practice of their businesses. The introduction of the ‘2 Pillar SMETA Audit’ into our inspection process was a natural step, and one our members wholeheartedly supported at their recent AGMs. We are delighted to offer this additional piece of mind to buyers and end users of cleaning and hygiene products.”

The CHSA’s Accreditation Schemes are for manufacturers of paper-based products, plastic-based products, cotton-based products, and cleaning chemicals, and for distributors of cleaning and hygiene products. They guarantee ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’.

The CHSA has integrated the Competition & Markets Authority’s Green Claims Code into its rigorous Code of Practice, which is signed by every member.

The combination of the Code of Practice and Accreditation Scheme membership means every member:

• Trades ethically and sustainably;
• Provides quality, fit for purpose products; and
• Makes sure what’s on the box is what’s in the box.