ACCREDITATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI)

International Associates is accredited by ASI to conduct independent, third-party audits of organizations where aluminum is involved in the supply chain, so they can be certified as Members against ASI standards. International Associates can conduct audits against the ASI Performance Standard and ASI Chain of Custody Standard. The ASI Performance Standard defines environmental, social and governance principles and criteria, with the aim to address sustainability issues in the aluminium value chain. The ASI Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard complements the ASI Performance Standards, and is voluntary for ASI Members, though encouraged. The CoC Standard sets out requirements for the creation of a Chain of Custody for CoC Material, including ASI Aluminum, which is produced and processed throughout the value chain into diverse downstream sectors. The implementation of ASI’s CoC Standard enables a link between verified practices at successive steps of the supply chain under the ASI Performance Standard, to the products produced by ASI Certified Entities.

Cyber Essentials

Cyber Essentials is a simple but effective, UK Government backed scheme that helps protect organizations, whatever its size, against a whole range of the most common cyber attacks. International Associates is pleased to have passed the assessment process and received certification for its online tools, networks and IT infrastructure. The certification helps strengthen our commitment to the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) and ensure the security of our systems and confidentiality of our data.

European Down & Feather Association (EDFA)

European Down & Feather Association (EDFA) was founded in 1980 and is currently made up of more than 90 companies and national organization from 23 countries. The aim of the association is to sustainably represent the interests of members from the bed feather industry, the feather-filling industry and their suppliers (machine industry, chemical industry, ticking industry and test institutes) in Europe. The EDFA is particularly committed to defending consumer interests and animal welfare.

HIGG Index

The Higg Index provides a tool for the apparel and footwear industry to assess sustainability throughout a product’s entire life cycle, from materials to end-of-life.The metrics created by the Higg Index are limited to a company’s internal use for the evaluation and improvement of environmental performance. Plans for a future version include the creation of a scoring scale designed to communicate a product’s sustainability impact to consumers and other stakeholders.

IAF

The IAF is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programmes of conformity assessment. Its primary function is to develop a single worldwide program of conformity assessment which reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited certificates may be relied upon. Accreditation assures users of the competence and impartiality of the body accredited. International Associate’s Accreditation by UKAS and ABCB membership ensures we are a stakeholder in the association.

IRIS

The IRIS certification program evaluates the compliance of labor recruiters with the IRIS Standard and global human and labor rights norms. The IRIS Standard sets the standard for ethical recruitment practices, and recruiters who meet these standards will receive IRIS certification through the certification program. Auditors, trained by IRIS, conduct assessments using customized methods and tools.

NHS Supply Chain

NHS Supply Chain provides patient-focused healthcare products and supply chain services to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). NHS Supply Chain has taken steps to reinforce the principles of the supplier code of conduct through the introduction of requirements for suppliers to implement and maintain an effective Labor Standards Assurance System (LSAS). Labor Standards Assurance System covers the range of policies, procedures and practices that an organization employs to identify labor standards issues, mitigate risk, and drive improvements. The LSAS is a toolkit for labor standards management and NHS Supply Chain requires suppliers to commission an external third-party audit to assess how they are managing these issues in their organization and importantly, in their supply chain. Being an SAAS-Accredited organization, IA is also accredited by NHS SC to conduct LSAS Audits (Level 1, 2, 3 & 4).

Responsible Jewelery Council

The Responsible Jewelery Council (RJC) Is a not-for-profit, standards setting, and certification organization. It has more than 1,000 Member companies that span the jewelery supply chain from mining to retail. International Associates is accredited to conduct audits against Code of Practices and Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol (SRSP) for the following sectors: Diamond Trading, Jewelery Manufacturing or Wholesale, Jewelery Retail and Service & Support Industries (e.g. laboratories, product valuation, etc.). At present, International Associates can conduct RJC audits in the United Kingdom, Italy, Hong Kong, China, Turkey, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Thailand and Singapore, Armenia, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Ireland, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritius, Netherlands, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam but we are expanding our coverage to other countries.

SAAS Approved Course Provider

The SA8000 Standard involves the development and auditing of management systems that promote socially acceptable working practices bringing benefits to the complete supply chain. For one to be a qualified auditor, only accredited training can be attended, and International Associates is one of the few bodies given accreditation for the training course. This means that International Associates can deliver training on the SA8000 audit process and there is an assurance that training is delivered in a consistent and professional manner. Our approval for SA8000 training can be checked on the SAAS website. You can check our training calendar for the latest schedule of SA8000 courses or you can directly send us an email for training enquiry.

SEDEX

Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) is home to one of the world’s leading collaborative platforms for buyers, suppliers and affiliate audit companies to store, share and report on information quickly and easily. Sedex helps more than 50,000 members in over 150 countries work together to better manage their social and environmental performance, and implement measures to protect people, the environment and their businesses. Being granted an account with AAC (Affiliate Audit Company) indicates International Associates Limited’s commitment to correctly use SMETA methodology and the Sedex Advance platform under Sedex’s supervision. The account provides additional benefits and obligations, including access to Sedex Advance and the Sedex platform, Sedex products and services, and engagement in the SMETA audit quality monitor and assessment.

Signet Jewelers

Signet is the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelery and the largest specialty retail jeweler in the US, UK and Canada. Signet’s results derive from the retailing of jewelery, watches, and associated services.

International Associates Limited, is accredited to be able to conduct the on-site assessment of the Signet supply chain. The process involves the assessment of the supplier against the Signet Supplier Code of Conduct, available on the Signet web site.

SLCP

International Associates is a member of the SLCP and is an authorised verifier. SLCP uses a multi-stakeholder and inclusive organization and approach. Signatories include manufacturers, retailers and brands, agents and audit firms/service providers, as well as organizations in the public sector; standardholders; civil society organizations, and multi-stakeholder organizations with an interest in converging assessments and improving labor and social conditions. SLCP will be accountable to signatories through an annual meeting.

Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS) SA8000 Certification

SAAS is an Accreditation agency that was founded to provide Accreditation of certification bodies to audit and issue certification against the requirements of Social Standards, such as the Social Accountability, SA8000, for ethical working conditions. In 1997, SAAS began work as a department within Social Accountability International (SAI) and then formally established as its own non-profit organization in 2007. SAAS is the only “recognized” accreditation body in the world awarding accreditation against SA8000. International Associates embarked on an approval programme in March 2017 and achieved formal accreditation later in the same year, October 2017. The accreditation process was robust and it covered the review of documentation, head office visits and witnessing of IA auditors in the field. You can download our SAAS Accreditation Certificate here.

UKAS

UKAS is the UK’s National Accreditation Body, responsible for determining, in the public interest, the technical competence and integrity of organizations such as those offering testing, calibration and certification services. . International Associates Limited is accredited by UKAS to carry out Management Systems Certification under the accreditation standard ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, the scope of the accreditation is for ISO 13485 Medical devices-Quality Management Systems-Requirements for regulatory purposes. Verify our certificate here.

WFSGI

The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) was formed in 1978 to promote the world’s sporting activities, to standardize the size of equipment and the rules of sport, to improve the standards of qualify for sporting goods and to promote responsible and sustainable practices in sporting goods internationally.Today the WFSI consists of a diverse global membership including brands, manufacturers, retailers and national and regional sports federations (“member”).

Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP)

Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, USA, WRAP is an independent, objective, non-profit team of global social compliance experts dedicated to promoting safe, lawful, humane, and ethical manufacturing around the world through certification and education. International Associates Limited is accredited to carry out WRAP assessments for the Certification Programme.