The ICS currently works with 11 audit companies around the world. Audit quality is monitored by ICS through statistical indicators and comparative analysis as well as by ICS members’ collaborative feedback and review.
In 2017, ICS signed an Agreement with each authorized audit companies. This formalized document represents the Code of conduct that every audit company should follow including integrity and confidentiality standards. The Agreement also lists the auditors’ experience and qualification requirements to perform ICS audits. The Agreement was updated in 2019.
ICS analyzes audit companies’ candidacies twice per year, according to the authorization and termination procedures described in the document available below. According to internal procedures, only one new audit company can be tested at a time, during a one-year trial period.
“ACT4SUSTAIN” is a group of auditors including structures with human scaling and international scope organized as an association.
All our members are from technical, social compliance and environmental audit professional backgrounds.
We choose to be organized as an “Association” with the intent to be less mercantile and focus more on social responsibility.
We are all volunteers who were reluctant to engage in social dumping when carrying out social audits.
Through our combined efforts, we are committed to ensure fair remuneration for the members of ACT4SUSTAIN. We are furthermore committed to support other associations or local communities with our financial actions.
We operate according to values of fairness, integrity and sharing. These are our key morals for continuous improvement in our industry.
Our operational platforms are in Asia and Europe.
API Audit started audit operation with its mother company of Asia Pacific Inspection Ltd. (Hong Kong, 1994) and was incorporated in 2007. One of the early provider of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) audit for French mass markets retailers’ very first programs of factory assessments, based on SA8000:2014 Standard, ISO14001:2016 and OSHA18001(ISO45000).
Api Audit provides supply chain control with technical audit or social audit assessment services to assess risk (Risk Assessment/Risk Management) and verifies compliance to CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Standard all through. Api audit growth and reputation is constructed on solid auditor expertise combined with operation control provided by on field operation supervisors and management system ISO17021:2015, ISO19011 as well as adhesion to APSCA Standard. At group level, Api Audit is historically based in Europe, China, South East Asia, India and more recently East Europe.
Learn more at: www.api-hk.com or contact us at audit@api-hk.com.
With nearly two decades of experience in supply chain labor and sustainability practices, the experts at Arche Advisors offer relevant and in-depth expertise to businesses. Arche Advisors have experience in a range of industries, including manufacturing, food processing, agriculture and extractives. Areas of expertise include social and due diligence assessments, core labor standards, workshops covering child labor, forced labor, discrimination and freedom of association, in-house training and education, and more.
Learn more at: http://archeadvisors.com/
Established in 1828, Bureau Veritas is a global leader in conformity assessment services in the areas of quality, health and safety, environment and social responsibility. With 2011 reported revenues of €4.55bn, the group employs more than 69,000 people working in 1,400 offices in 140 countries and 340 accredited laboratories globally, with our head office in Paris, France.
The Consumer Products Services Division of Bureau Veritas (BVCPS) employs the resources of over 12,000 employees to provide comprehensive inspection, assessment and testing services to the world’s leading global retailers, manufacturers, brands, vendors and importers of consumer products. The BVCPS business is a fully verticalized global operation where management structures, decision-making processes and strategies allow for a high degree of autonomy. This enables a specialist approach to service excellence in a rapidly changing world.
Learn more at: bureauveritas.fr
* Currently on trial for a period of one year
LRQA – is a global market leader in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), sustainability and supply chain services. We are your strategic transformation partner, helping clients design, build and manage data-driven programs to transition from traditional sourcing to responsible sourcing. With our extensive on-the-ground supplier experience, LRQA provides realistic, business driven and actionable guidance.
To find more information about our work please visit: https://www.elevatelimited.com/
Eurofins | AQM, the agile solutions provider in product inspection, factory auditing and training, has been acquired by Eurofins Consumer Product Testing (CPT) in July 2019. This acquisition symbolizes the determination of Eurofins CPT in the consumer product quality and assurance area. Starting in traditional manufacturing hub China, Eurofins | AQM has progressively been expanding into new sourcing markets in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia & Myanmar), South Asia (Bangladesh & India), as well as Europe and North Africa (Turkey, Pakistan and Ethiopia) to cope with dynamic sourcing landscape and shifting market demands. Our 280+ in-house inspectors and auditors are well trained to ensure proficiency, consistency and commitment across our services. Eurofins | AQM, APSCA member, has been trusted by fashion brands and retailers worldwide. Contact: Ludovic Coppin (ludovic.coppin@aqm-hk.com)
Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 43,000 people in more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers’ operations and supply chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.
QIMA (formerly AsiaInspection) is a leading provider of supply chain compliance solutions, that partners with brands, retailers and importers to secure, manage and optimize their global supply network.
QIMA has on-the-ground presence in 85 countries, combining industry-leading experts for onsite inspections, supplier audits and lab testing with a digital platform that brings accuracy, transparency and intelligence for quality and compliance data.
For all our clients in 120 countries who use the QIMA platform and benefit from 24/7 support in over 20 languages, QIMA is Your Eyes in the Supply Chain™.
Learn more at: https://www.qima.com/
To ensure that a business’s processes are socially responsible from receipt of raw materials to product delivery, SGS offers a range of audit, inspection, training and certification services to assess production site performance against social responsibility standards and monitor progress in a continuous improvement approach. Thanks to SGS input, businesses can commit to improving work conditions with regard to staff health and safety, countering discrimination, improving wage and collective bargaining conditions, the working hours system, and eliminating child and forced labor.
SGS has the largest network of highly skilled and experienced social auditors in the world to guide businesses to better supply chain management. As an accredited auditing body for Social Clause Initiative(SCI), SGS conducts audits to assess supplier compliance with the requirements of the SCI code of conduct, notably in developing countries.
Learn more at: www.sgsgroup.fr
* Currently on a one year trial period
The Kappa Assessment team has a long history dating back to the late 1980s in China and France, primarily working with European Mass Market retailers, including hardgoods, furniture, softlines, shoes, and luxury goods.
Kappa Assessment (KA) conducts high-value audits that are tailored to the realities of the field and industry, aiming to provide relevant, useful, and actionable information.
Our efforts are focused on a human-centric, individualized, practical, and efficient operational approach. We are fully committed to our promises, providing one-to-one personalized trainings, and closely following our projects with dedication.
Our management is present on the ground, maintaining direct and close contact with auditors. Our team consists of 18 members who are personally known to the management and have regular communication.
The linguistic link between the leadership team in France and China, with Chinese as the daily working language in writing and speaking, enables direct communication with personnel, resulting in excellent fluidity in planning, execution, reporting, and training operations.
Our operational approach ensures good execution speed according to the schedule, timely report submissions, responsible and precise report reviews, a customer-centric dedicated team, and low structural costs.
