Auditing: Ethical Sourcing in China

At Ascon, we believe that responsible practices are essential to long-term success. We are committed to helping you ensure that all of your suppliers adhere to ethical standards and environmental guidelines, so your products are made with integrity. This approach to sustainability and compliance helps protect your brand, while also supporting workers’ rights and minimising environmental impact.

SA8000

We verify whether factories comply with the SA8000 standard, focusing on social accountability across labor rights, working conditions, and management systems. Our audits ensure ethical treatment of workers and adherence to global labor norms.

Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI)

We assess supplier facilities against the ETI Base Code, rooted in ILO standards, to ensure fair wages, safe working environments, and the prohibition of forced or child labor - supporting responsible and ethical trade practices.

ISO 9001:2015

Our team conducts evaluations to confirm that manufacturers maintain robust quality management systems under ISO 9001:2015. This ensures product consistency, customer satisfaction, and continuous process improvement.

ISO 14001

We audit suppliers for compliance with ISO 14001, ensuring that environmental risks are identified, controlled, and reduced. This helps our clients partner with manufacturers who are committed to sustainable operations.

ISO 45001

We assess factory compliance with ISO 45001, the global standard for occupational health and safety management. This ensures a safe working environment and the prevention of work-related injuries and ill-health.

Others

We can help with ISO 13485, 22716, 22000, 50001, 27001

Objectives, Process and Why it Matters

  • To identify, assess, and approve reliable, ethical, and capable factories in China on behalf of clients, minimizing risk and ensuring production success.

  • 1. Define Your Requirements

    We begin by understanding each buyer’s specific needs, from product standards to ethical and compliance expectations.

    2. Initial Screening (Desktop Audit)

    We conduct background checks, certification reviews, and online research to filter out unsuitable factories before any engagement.

    3. On-Site Factory Assessment

    Our local team visits the facility to assess production capability, working conditions, quality systems, and compliance practices.

    4. Reference Checks & Samples

    We validate the factory’s credibility through client references and product samples to ensure reliability and product fit.

    5. Risk Rating & Recommendation

    Each factory is scored and categorized with a clear recommendation, helping buyers make confident sourcing decisions.

    6. Ongoing Monitoring (Optional)

    For ongoing assurance, we offer periodic check-ins and spot audits to maintain quality and compliance over time.

  • We constantly monitor our suppliers and work with them to implement improvements in both labour and environmental practices. By maintaining strong, long-term relationships with our factory partners, we’re able to encourage ongoing enhancements in ethical and sustainable manufacturing processes.

  • Choosing sustainable and ethical sourcing practices not only benefits the environment and workers, but also helps protect your brand’s reputation. In today’s market, consumers and businesses are increasingly concerned about the social and environmental impact of the products they purchase. By partnering with Ascon, we can help you ensure that your products are made responsibly, aligning your business with the growing demand for sustainability.

Make your manufacturing better for everyone.