SMETA and GoodWeave — audited, unannounced, verifiable.

What does SMETA actually check?

SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) is an on-site audit built on four pillars, and we are audited on all four:

• Labour standards — wages, working hours, contracts, freedom of employment. Weavers are paid correctly and on time, and the audit trail proves it.
• Health & safety — lighting, ventilation, fire readiness, safe equipment on the factory floor and in the finishing units.
• Environment — how we handle water, waste and materials (dovetails with our GRS scope).
• Business ethics — no bribery, transparent records, grievance channels that actually work.

Buyers don't have to take our word for any of it: our SMETA report sits on the Sedex platform, where any member buyer can read it before ever visiting Bhadohi.

What does GoodWeave add?

GoodWeave exists for one uncompromising purpose: no child labour, no forced labour, no bonded labour — anywhere in the supply chain, including home looms subcontractors would love auditors to forget. GoodWeave inspectors arrive unannounced, at any loom, at any time. Licence status is verifiable directly with GoodWeave International, and a share of every certified rug funds schooling for children in weaving communities. When your rug carries that label, a child somewhere is in a classroom instead of at a loom.

Why should a buyer care beyond ethics?

Because due-diligence law is catching up with conscience: supply-chain transparency requirements in the EU, UK and US increasingly demand documented proof of labour standards. Our audits mean your compliance paperwork is already written.

• SMETA 4-pillar audited
• Sedex platform access
• GoodWeave unannounced inspections
• 800+ weavers