HERMA Passes ‘Responsible Sourcing Audit’
HERMA, a leading European specialist in self-adhesive technology, has passed Nestlé’s ‘Responsible Sourcing Audit’ at the first attempt. The international food company demands that its suppliers source all key materials and perform services according to established social and environmental standards. HERMA supplies Nestlé with industrial labels made from the company’s own self-adhesive materials.
HERMA’s in-house standards were assessed by the renowned independent certifier SGS. The audit focused on business ethics, labour standards, environment, and health & safety. These criteria are based on the four pillars of the ‘Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit 4 Pillars Protocol’ (SMETA 4 Pillars) established by Sedex, a non-profit organisation founded in 2004. Amongst other things, the audit included an extensive site inspection and interviews with many employees, as well as meetings with the management team, the workers’ representatives, safety officers and environmental protection officers. The audit also meticulously checked whether HERMA lives up to its own mission statement.
“The auditor was impressed with HERMA’s consequence in implementing and observing rules concerning sustainability,” says HERMA managing director Sven Schneller. The company passed the audit without any need for improvement. “With this kind of audit, this result is by no means expected,” he adds.
Special praise was given to HERMA’s approach of maintaining an online register of new and recently changed regulations. For that purpose, the company maintains a software tool that automatically reports legal amendments, allowing for especially fast and reliable implementation. “By successfully passing the audit, we have laid the foundations for an even more extensive cooperation with Nestlé,” says Sven Schneller.
Moreover, the audit will open even more doors for HERMA. Other Sedex partners – amongst them many international companies such as Unilever, Kellogg’s, or Kraft Foods – also use the audit results. No separate certification will therefore be needed for new or existing business relations.
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HERMA managing directors Sven Schneller (left) and Dr Thomas Baumgärtner are happy with the audit results.
