“Accreditation: Supporting the Future of Global Trade” is the theme for World Accreditation Day (WAD) 2023, selected by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Cooperation (ILAC). “The Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the climate crisis have made it very clear that we need to fundamentally reconsider the nature and direction of our business activities”, says Dr Johannes Bussmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of TÜV SÜD AG. “The restructuring and control of global supply chains is of critical importance in establishing a more sustainable foundation for global trade that will shape and safeguard its viability in the future.“ Important guidance in this context is provided by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) , such as SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Accredited TIC companies like TÜV SÜD play a critical role in shaping sustainable supply chains. Providing third-party testing and certification throughout the world, they ensure end-to-end monitoring of supply chains and compliance with recognised sustainability standards. Accreditation by a regulatory body or an international standard setter is a prerequisite for TIC companies to provide certification in a specific sector and/or country. At the same time, accreditation safeguards the high quality standards of TIC companies.

“Our experts from a wide range of different disciplines collaborate in a global network, which also includes a large number of testing laboratories”, explains Dr. Bussmann. “With this network, we can provide highly efficient support in the sustainable restructuring of global supply chains and verify their compliance with recognised standards.” Specific TÜV SÜD services for supply chain management include second-party audits to evaluate new suppliers, certification of security management systems for supply chains in accordance with ISO 28000, audits in accordance with the requirements of the amfori BSCI standards for monitoring conditions at the workplace, and certifications in accordance with the social compliance standard SA8000®.

AUDITS AND CERTIFICATIONS INSPIRE TRUST

Transparency and credibility are also critical for due diligence along the corporate supply chain. While the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz, LkSG) has come into force beginning of this year in Germany, the EU Commission has presented the draft for an EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (DSDD), which will take the entire value chain into account. Accredited companies are expected to also play an important role in the EU Supply Chain Act: “Our independent audits and certifications inspire the necessary level of trust in all links of the supply chain”, emphasises the TÜV SÜD Chairman of the Board. “All parties involved, from companies to regulators and consumers, benefit from a genuinely sustainable supply chain management and supply chains that are diversified, resilient and sustainable.”

• Further information about World Accreditation Day 2023 can be found at https://ilac.org/news-and-events/world-accreditation-day-2023/;
• Further information about TÜV SÜD’s services in this area can be found at https://www.tuvsud.com/sustainable-supply-chain-management.