Minerva's Code of Conduct

Last updated: 12 May 2026

Minerva VA Denetim ve Danışmanlık AŞ ("Minerva Sustainability") is committed to fostering a sustainable world by integrating social and environmental considerations into its professional services, providing training, consultancy, verification, and validation services globally across the apparel, footwear, and textile industry.

High ethical standards are critical to maintaining public trust in independent social compliance and environmental auditing. Our Code of Conduct and Standards of Professional Conduct has been prepared in accordance with the APSCA Code and Standards of Professional Conduct (D-032, Version 2, July 2020), the Higg FEM Verification Program Requirements, the Higg FEM Verifier Body / Verifier Code of Professional Conduct, and all applicable local legislation. Where legislation changes, the content is updated by our Legislation & Regulation Department to ensure continued compliance without contradicting the standards Minerva follows.

The Code defines the minimum standards of ethical and responsible behaviour required of all Minerva personnel, including social compliance auditors (CSCA and ASCA), environmental verifiers, employees, contractors, subcontractors, and any third parties acting on behalf of Minerva. It also sets out ethical expectations for auditees, facilities, stakeholders, and service providers engaged in Minerva's projects.

Reporting Concerns

Our Code of Conduct, complaint handling process, and supporting procedures are publicly available below. Any breach or suspected violation should be reported through the following channels:

• Email: info@minervava.com
• Postal address: Maslak Mah. AOS 55. Sk. 42 Maslak, B Blok, No: 4, İç Kapı No: 542, Sarıyer / İstanbul

All reports are treated confidentially. Minerva prohibits any form of retaliation against individuals who report concerns in good faith.

Explore the Full Code of Conduct

For the complete Code of Conduct document, including detailed standards, procedures, and obligations, please review the official PDF:

📄 Review the Code of Conduct (PDF)

Scope & Applicability

This Code of Conduct applies to:

• All Minerva employees, including verifiers, auditors, trainers, and administrative staff;
• Contractors, subcontractors, and freelance experts engaged by Minerva;
• Third parties acting on behalf of or in association with Minerva, including affiliate offices (Argentina, Vietnam, and partner locations);
• Auditees, facilities, and clients participating in Minerva's verification, validation, training, or consultancy programs.

Core Principles

Our work is guided by the following core principles:

• Integrity & Objectivity — conducting all assessments without bias, undue influence, or conflicts of interest;
• Confidentiality — safeguarding sensitive information shared by clients, workers, and stakeholders;
• Professional Competence — maintaining and continuously developing the technical expertise required for our services;
• Compliance with Standards — adhering to APSCA, Cascale, ZDHC, Worldly, Jeanologia, and other recognized industry frameworks;
• Respect for Human Rights — upholding international labour standards, worker protections, and dignity at work;
• Environmental Responsibility — contributing to environmental sustainability in our own operations and through our services;
• Transparency & Accountability — openly communicating about our processes, methodologies, and findings.

Updates to this Code

This Code of Conduct is periodically reviewed and updated to reflect changes in applicable laws, industry standards (APSCA, Cascale, ZDHC, etc.), and Minerva's internal policies. The most current version is always available on this page.

Contact

For questions, feedback, or concerns about this Code of Conduct, please contact us at:

MİNERVA VA DENETİM VE DANIŞMANLIK ANONİM ŞİRKETİ
Maslak Mah. AOS 55. Sk. 42 Maslak, B Blok, No: 4, İç Kapı No: 542, Sarıyer / İstanbul, Türkiye
Email: info@minervava.com