Certificación
BRCGS ETRS Ethical Trade and Responsible Sourcing
The BRCGS Global Standard for Ethical Trade and Responsible Sourcing (ETRS) specifies the requirements a site must meet to ensure its legal and moral obligations to its workers. It was the first scheme to be recognized globally by The Consumer Goods Forum's Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) and can also be used as a basis for assessing a certified site's extended supply chain.
¿Qué es BRCGS ETRS?
What is the BRCGS ETRS standard?
BRCGS ETRS is a social audit standard that assesses a site's facilities, operating systems, and procedures in relation to its ethical trade and responsible sourcing management system. Unlike other social audit schemes, BRCGS requires that certification bodies be specifically accredited to this standard, which adds an extra level of rigor and expertise.
The standard responds to the growing demands of buyers, regulators, and investors for ethical traceability, and complements GFSI-recognized product safety standards (such as BRCGS Food Safety or Packaging Materials). It is applicable to manufacturers, secondary processing and packaging sites, and service providers.
The conceptual basis
The pillars of BRCGS ETRS
Real protection for workers
The standard seeks to ensure that the necessary conditions exist on site to fulfill legal and moral obligations towards workers, beyond formal compliance.
Trust in the supply chain
It allows the assessment to be extended beyond the certified site, serving as a basis for also assessing the extended supply chain.
Recognition by the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI)
It was the first scheme of its kind to be recognized by the SSCI of The Consumer Goods Forum, the benchmark standard for the consumer goods industry.
Specific accreditation of the certifying body
Unlike other social audit schemes, it requires that the certifying body have specific accreditation for BRCGS ETRS, not a generic accreditation.
Why certify
Benefits of BRCGS ETRS certification
Give real confidence to buyers, consumers and workers about working conditions in your supply chain
It facilitates access to international clients and retailers who demand certified ethical compliance.
It is recognized by the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI), the benchmark for the consumer goods industry.
Protects brand reputation against risks of labor or social non-compliance
It can be combined with other BRCGS audits (Food Safety, Packaging, Storage and Distribution, etc.)
It responds to the growing demand from buyers, regulators and investors for ethical traceability
Preguntas frecuentes
What is BRCGS ETRS certification?
BRCGS ETRS (Ethical Trade and Responsible Sourcing) is a global standard that assesses a site's management system in relation to ethical trade and responsible sourcing, ensuring compliance with legal and moral obligations towards workers.
What type of organizations does BRCGS ETRS apply to?
It applies to manufacturers, secondary processing and packaging sites, and service providers that are part of a supply chain and need to demonstrate ethical compliance to their customers or buyers.
Does BRCGS ETRS replace other social auditing standards?
It does not necessarily replace them, but it differs by requiring that the certifying body has specific accreditation for this standard, and by being recognized by the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI).
Can BRCGS ETRS be combined with other BRCGS audits?
Yes. It is common to combine the ETRS audit with other BRCGS audits that the organization already has certified, such as Food Safety or Packaging, optimizing time and costs.
How long does the BRCGS ETRS certification process with LSQA take?
From the first day of the on-site audit, the certification body has a maximum of 42 calendar days to finalize the report and issue the certificate, provided the organization has resolved its non-conformities within 28 days of the audit. Prior to the audit, the preparation time depends on each organization's level of maturity in ethical trade practices.
Certify your organization's Ethical Trade and Responsible Sourcing with LSQA
Contact us and start your journey towards BRCGS ETRS certification