Supplier due diligence is more useful when a brand asks specific questions about the facility, the documents available and the scope those documents cover. Sedex and BSCI are commonly encountered in buyer review processes, but neither should be reduced to a generic badge. This guide helps a buyer prepare a targeted document request and avoid overclaiming what a facility credential means for an individual garment or order.
1. Start with the buyer's due-diligence requirement
Ask what your retailer, investor, marketplace or internal policy actually needs. The requirement may concern a facility, a social-audit platform, a document date, a production site or a broader sourcing review. A precise request is easier for a supplier to answer than a general request for ‘all certificates’.
Sedex describes its platform as a way for suppliers and buyers to manage and share information about labour standards, health and safety, environmental practices and business ethics. That background can inform a buyer's questions, but the documents relevant to a particular order must still be confirmed with the supplier.
- Required platform, audit or document type
- Facility or production-site scope
- Document date and reviewer
- Any retailer or market-specific requirement
2. Ask what the available credentials cover
DONGFAN holds BSCI and Sedex credentials available for buyer due diligence. Ask sales what current material is available for review and whether it is relevant to the production scope you are assessing. Do not imply that a facility credential automatically certifies every product, fabric or shipment.
Keep due-diligence documents separate from product-level material claims. If the brief also requires OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 or GOTS-related evidence, identify the selected material and request the document that applies to that material rather than combining different standards into one statement.
- Current documents available for buyer review
- Facility and scope referenced by the document
- Order-specific material evidence needed
- Approved wording for any public claim
3. Keep review findings connected to the project brief
Record which documents were reviewed, by whom and what follow-up is still needed. This gives the brand a transparent audit trail without treating the review as a marketing message. If a buyer asks for updated or additional evidence, add that request to the project record before production commitments are finalised.
A due-diligence conversation works best alongside the operational brief: style, quantity, material, target market and delivery needs. This helps the supplier understand which documents are relevant and helps the brand avoid collecting unrelated files that do not answer the actual buyer requirement.
- Document register and review date
- Outstanding questions
- Connection to the selected material and factory scope
- Written approval for any public statement
FAQs
Are Sedex and BSCI product certifications?
No. They should not be presented as automatic product or material certifications. Confirm the document scope and the claim relevant to your project.
Can DONGFAN provide BSCI and Sedex information for due diligence?
DONGFAN's BSCI and Sedex credentials are available for buyer due diligence. Ask sales for current, project-relevant information.
What should I keep in a supplier due-diligence file?
Keep the buyer requirement, documents reviewed, their scope and date, outstanding questions and the final approved claim wording.