Buyer guide
How to request a supplier's SMETA report on Sedex
Sedex does not issue certificates, so a supplier cannot email you a SMETA certificate. Your ethical trade team requests the audit on the Sedex platform using the supplier's company reference, and views the report and corrective action plan there. Our Sedex company reference is ZC407045374; the latest SMETA 4-Pillar audit was by LRQA on 4 August 2026.
Why there is no certificate
A SMETA audit produces a report and a corrective action plan, not a pass certificate. The report sits on Sedex, so the buyer sees the version the audit firm uploaded, not a copy the supplier could edit. When a supplier claims a Sedex certificate, it is a sign they do not know how the system works.
The correct wording for our plant is SMETA 4-Pillar (Sedex) audited.
The steps
- Your ethical trade or compliance team logs in to Sedex.
- They search for our company reference, ZC407045374.
- They send a connection request to our company.
- We accept it and share the audit.
- Your team opens the SMETA report and the corrective action plan, and checks the non-conformities and how they were closed.
What to check in the report
- Pillars. 2-Pillar covers labour standards and health and safety. 4-Pillar adds environment and business ethics. Many retailers ask for 4-Pillar.
- Date and audit firm. Our latest audit was carried out by LRQA on 4 August 2026, after the audit of 17 April 2026.
- Site. The audit should be for the site that will make your product. Our site reference is ZS407068898, the Huzhou plant.
- Corrective actions. Most audits find something. What matters is whether it was closed, and how quickly.
Your own audit
Some retailers send their own auditors as well. Our plant has passed second-party audits for NEXT, Carrefour, CVS (audit by UL), Watsons, MINISO, NetEase Yanxuan, Nice Group and FamilyMart. If you audit your suppliers, tell us the standard and the date.
Questions buyers ask
What is the difference between SMETA and Sedex?
Sedex is the platform where audits are stored and shared. SMETA is the audit method. A supplier is SMETA audited and shares the report on Sedex.
What is a ZC number?
The Sedex company reference. It starts with ZC. A site has its own reference starting with ZS; ours are ZC407045374 and ZS407068898.
What if our company is not on Sedex?
Ask us. We can discuss other ways to show the audit, but viewing it on Sedex is how most retailers want it.
Last updated . Reviewed by Tang Guoqiang, OEM/ODM Sales Manager at YFF Cosmetics.
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