Prioritizing Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing
At 503 PPE, ethical sourcing is non-negotiable. We believe that safety should never come at the expense of human rights, environmental responsibility or moral integrity. It’s not just about protecting workers on the job—it’s also about protecting the workers who make the gear and the planet we all share. That’s why we only partner with SMETA-certified manufacturers.
So what does that mean? Buckle up! We care deeply about ethical sourcing and we’re excited to share the research we’ve done behind the scenes.
What is Sedex and What Does SMETA Certification Mean?
When we say our partners are SMETA certified, we mean they’ve passed a rigorous ethical and sustainability audit. Sedex, a UK-based nonprofit led by Jon Hancock, oversees these audits. As one of the world’s leading platforms for responsible sourcing, Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) helps companies manage and improve supply chain ethics.
Their audit, known as SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit), is one of the world’s most widely used ethical audit formats. It’s important to recognize that not just anyone gets in. Once a company does, it has to maintain high standards or risk losing its certification. Membership is conditional. Companies are only a “member” if they continue to meet the sustainable and ethical requirements to be SMETA Certified.
The Four Pillars of SMETA Certification
SMETA certification uses a four-pillar audit framework rooted in the Ethical Trade Initiative’s Base Code, which sets global labor and ethical sourcing standards.
Here’s what those pillars look like in practice:
1. Labor Standards
Manufacturers must protect workers’ rights. That includes:
- Employment is freely chosen
- No discrimination is practiced
- No child labor
- No excessive working hours
- Fair wages (living wages, not just minimum wages)
- Freedom of association and collective bargaining are respected
- Regular employment is provided
- No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed
2. Health and Safety
Manufacturers must create safe, hygienic, and mentally supportive working conditions. This pillar protects workers from physical harm, stress, abuse, and poor treatment.
3. Environment
Factories must follow responsible environmental practices, including:
- Ethical material sourcing
- Sustainable waste disposal
- Smart resource management
We haven’t found a super detailed breakdown of what Sedex defines as “ethical,” and honestly, we wish every company embraced the Braiding Sweetgrass mindset. In an ideal world, every manufacturer would follow the philosophy of an honorable harvest—only taking what they need, giving back to the earth, and never over-harvesting resources. These Indigenous ecological principles set the gold standard for sustainable practices.
At 503 PPE, we’re making conscious choices for more sustainable and ethical sourcing —even if the world isn’t quite there yet.
In the meantime, we’re tackling waste head-on by designing products built to last. For example, our nitrile gloves are tough enough to avoid those frustrating rips that waste materials and slow you down. You won’t need to toss three gloves just to get one that works. That means less waste, fewer frustrations, and a more sustainable future—one glove at a time.
4. Business Ethics
This isn’t just about how workers are treated—it’s also about how the business itself operates. That means:
- No bribery
- No corruption
- Transparent policies
- Respectful and lawful employer-employee relationships
Why Ethical Sourcing + SMETA Certification Matters to Us
We’re a small, family-owned company. That means we don’t have the budget (yet!) to hop on a plane and visit every factory we work with. We still demand transparency and accountability in our supply chain.
That’s where SMETA gives us peace of mind.
We know SMETA-certified manufacturers meet strict standards for labor rights, environmental practices, and ethical conduct. If they fall short, Sedex pulls the certification. There’s no “forever pass”—just a clear, ethical bar they must meet and maintain year after year.
We Do Our Homework—So You Don’t Have To
We mean it when we say we source ethically and sustainably. We’ve pored over the audits. We’ve cross-checked and watchdog reports. (Shoutout to NSF.org and Eurocert, two respected third-party agencies that have evaluated SMETA and vouched for its rigor.) We’ve made it our business to understand this landscape—because it is our business.
We design, source, and deliver safety gear with a purpose: elevating how it’s made, empowering the people who make it, and driving higher ethical standards across the entire supply chain.
Transparency is Key
We practice transparency at every level—from our supply chain to our customer relationships. If you have questions about our products or sourcing, reach out. We’ll gladly walk you through the details.
At 503 PPE, safety isn’t just about the gear. It’s about the people behind it, the planet beneath it, and the principles that guide it.
And we think that’s worth protecting.
Want to dig deeper into Sedex and SMETA? Here are a few of the resources we used when building our supply chain ethics policy: