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Ethical Procurement Seal

Prove your supply chain meets human-rights expectations

A limited-scope SEAM recognition for modern slavery, forced labor, and supply-chain human-rights due diligence — in commercial real estate operations and procurement.

Who it’s for

Built for commercial real estate value chains

Reporting entities

Reporting entities

Organizations with modern slavery, forced-labor, or supply-chain disclosure obligations.

Vendors and suppliers

Vendors and suppliers

Tier 1 vendors and suppliers to commercial real estate value chains.

Property owners and managers

Property owners and managers

Building owners and operators with tenant relationships or procurement responsibilities.

Investment managers

Investment managers

Funds and asset managers reviewing portfolio-level due diligence.

The Activity pathway

A defined pathway to recognition

01

Governance, scope, and value-chain mapping

Establish project understanding and governance, and map the value chain the assessed party operates within.

03

Policy and procurement controls

Set ethical materials procurement governance and policy, ethical sourcing of products and materials, and site-specific social responsibility policies.

Only one site-specific policy Activity applies per assessed party: TGa3.1 for the construction-project phase (Buildings + Interiors), TGa3.2 for the operating asset (Operations + Maintenance).

04

Labor conditions in the assessed organization's own operations

Living wage and decent work conditions for the assessed party's own workforce.

05

Corrective action and remediation

Address identified impacts and remediate materials-procurement-related human-rights impacts.

06

Grievance, reporting, and transparency

Communicate externally about human-rights impacts, and operate a grievance mechanism for direct reporting of violations.

07

Training and capability

Educate and train relevant procurement employees on human-rights standards.

08

Monitoring, effectiveness, and review

Implement ongoing social performance monitoring, plus periodic evaluation and review.

Compliance

Aligned with global frameworks

Australian Modern Slavery Act 2018

UK Modern Slavery Act 2015

Canada Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act

California Transparency in Supply Chains Act

German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act

French Duty of Vigilance Law

Norwegian Transparency Act

EU Forced Labour Regulation

US Tariff Act Section 307 / UFLPA

UNGPs · OECD · ILO forced-labor standards

Pricing

A flat fee per Assessment Scope

$5,000 per Seal · per Assessment Scope.

One reviewed entity, scope, and period. Every activity counts toward full SEAM Certification if you choose to pursue it later.

Questions about the Ethical Procurement Seal

How is this different from full SEAM Certification?

Full SEAM Certification evaluates a whole building across all four pillars. The Ethical Procurement Seal is a limited-scope Seal focused on one theme — modern slavery, forced labor, and supply-chain due diligence — and only within a defined Assessment Scope. It does not certify the full owner, portfolio, fund, or asset.

What is the "Assessment Scope"?

The Assessment Scope is the explicit boundary of the Seal review and the public claim. It identifies the assessed party, their role, the frameworks covered, the supply-chain profile, tenant relationships, the reporting period, exclusions, and any owned or controlled entities included.

What does proportionate due diligence mean here?

Required Activities apply to every assessed party. Scope-Triggered Activities apply only when the Assessment Scope includes the relevant condition — for example, Tier 1 Suppliers in scope, tenant labor practices in scope, or U.S. import responsibilities. This adapts the same Standard-based method to the assessed party’s actual profile.

What is "Leading Practice" recognition?

Achievement is binary — you either earn the Seal or you don’t. Above that, organizations meeting the Gold-equivalent or Platinum-equivalent thresholds across the applicable Activity subset may receive the distinction "SEAM Ethical Procurement Seal — Leading Practice."

Does this satisfy modern slavery reporting obligations?

No. The Seal can support evidence organization for selected frameworks, but it does not complete legal reporting, regulator filings, customs responses, or import admissibility determinations. The assessed party and its counsel remain responsible for legal interpretation and filings.

What disqualifies an assessed party from earning the Seal?

The Seal may not be awarded where credible evidence shows active, unremediated modern slavery, forced labor, child labor, trafficking, or refusal to provide required evidence within the Assessment Scope. Any such finding must be resolved, remediated, or documented through an approved corrective action process before the Seal can be granted.

Does it count toward full Certification later?

Yes. Activities completed for this Seal may carry forward toward a future SEAM Human Rights Seal or full SEAM Certification when the assessed scope, entity, reporting period, evidence, and applicable rating system remain aligned with SEAM requirements.

Ready to begin?

Talk to an advisor to scope your Ethical Procurement Seal.