The SME Standards Compass methodology has been edited in September 2025 and the overall number of criteria reduced from 40 to 35. The revised methodology 2.0 is still based on the UN Guiding Principles (UNGP), structured according to the five steps of the Due Diligence process and matched 1:1 with the ITC methodology. Some criteria have been combined and the wording for selected ITC-criteria has been amended. The scope and complexity of the assessment based on the Degree of Criticality (DoC) and Degree of Obligation (DoO) as well as link to Siegelklarheit’s credibility criteria remained unchanged.

Download SME Standards-Compass Methodology 2.0 here.