Profile: VAP Full Assessment
The complete RBA Validated Assessment Program covering all 33 criteria across labor, health and safety, environmental, ethics, and management system categories. This full assessment is the standard VAP assessment type for comprehensive facility-level ESG evaluation.
Full Description
RBA VAP Standard V7.1.2
Responsible Business Alliance Advancing Sustainability Globally
Historical profile. This records the machine-readable criterion composition of the RBA Validated Assessment Program release 7.1.2, preserved so that assessments and credentials issued under VAP 7.1.2 resolve to the exact criterion versions that were in force at that time. The pinned criterion versions are the immutable lockfile in
manifest.yml.
Composition
VAP 7.1.2 pins 33 criteria across labor, health & safety, environment, ethics, and management-system categories. Each criterion is locked to
the specific version it carried in this release (see manifest.yml). Because criteria
are versioned independently of the VAP release number, a single criterion version is
typically shared across several VAP releases.
The full published VAP 7.1.2 standard text is maintained by the RBA; this profile captures the conformity-criteria composition for content-negotiation and credential resolution.
Assessment Criteria
Labor
- Freely Chosen Employment | 1.1.0
- Young Workers | 1.1.0
- Working Hours | 2.0.0
- Wages and Benefits | 2.0.0
- Humane Treatment / Non-Discrimination / Non-Harassment | 2.0.0
- Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining | 1.1.0
- Labor Management Systems | 2.0.0
Health and Safety
- Occupational Safety | 2.0.0
- Emergency Preparedness | 1.1.0
- Occupational Injury and Illness | 2.0.0
- Industrial Hygiene | 2.0.0
- Physically Demanding Work | 1.1.0
- Machine Safeguarding | 1.1.0
- Food, Sanitation and Housing | 2.0.0
- Health & Safety Management Systems | 2.0.0
Environment
- Environmental Permits and Reporting | 2.0.0
- Hazardous Substances | 1.1.0
- Solid Waste | 1.1.0
- Air Emissions | 2.0.0
- Water Management | 1.1.0
- Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions | 1.1.0
- Environment Management Systems | 2.0.0
Ethics
- Business Integrity and No Improper Advantage | 1.1.0
- Disclosure of Information | 2.0.0
- Intellectual Property | 2.0.0
- Fair Business, Advertising and Competition | 2.0.0
- Protection of Identity and Non-Retaliation | 2.0.0
- Privacy | 2.0.0
- Ethics Management System | 2.0.0
Management Systems
- Company Commitment | 1.1.0
- Materials Restrictions | 2.0.0
- Responsible Sourcing of Minerals | 2.0.0
- Supplier Responsibility | 2.0.0
Conformity Topics
Conformity topics covered by this profile, drawn from the UN/CEFACT conformity topic classification.
Air Quality Management
Controlling and reducing non-GHG air pollutant emissions including SOx, NOx, VOCs, particulates, and ozone-depleting substances from operations and production processes.
Anti-Corruption Measures
Preventing bribery, extortion, and corrupt practices through policies, controls, and organizational culture.
Chemical Safety
Restriction and responsible management of hazardous substances in materials, products, and production processes.
Competitive Fairness
Ensuring fair market practices, preventing anti-competitive behavior, and maintaining a level playing field.
Data Privacy
Protection of personal information and responsible data handling in compliance with privacy regulations and ethical standards.
Decent Work Conditions
Provision of fair wages, reasonable working hours, and dignified employment conditions throughout the supply chain.
Emergency Readiness
Preparedness planning, training, and response capabilities for workplace emergencies including fire, chemical spills, and natural disasters.
Energy Optimization
Improving energy efficiency across supply chain operations including manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing.
Ergonomic Design
Designing safe physical work environments that minimize musculoskeletal strain and support worker comfort and productivity.
Ethical Material Sourcing
Procuring raw materials through sustainable and responsible practices, avoiding conflict minerals and environmentally destructive extraction.
Exposure Management
Controlling worker exposure to harmful chemical, biological, and physical agents through monitoring and protective measures.
Feedback Channels
Accessible grievance mechanisms, whistleblower protections, and feedback systems for workers, communities, and stakeholders to raise concerns without fear of retaliation.
Forced Labor Elimination
Preventing all forms of forced, bonded, or compulsory labor including debt bondage and human trafficking in supply chains.
Gender Equity
Promoting gender diversity, equal opportunity, and elimination of gender-based discrimination in employment and business practices.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Measuring, reporting, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, methane, N2O, F-gases) across production, transport, and supply chain activities.
Healthcare Access
Providing access to medical support, occupational health services, and health insurance for workers.
Intellectual Property Protection
Respecting intellectual property rights including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
Legal Compliance
Adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and legal obligations in all jurisdictions of operation.
Living Conditions
Ensuring safe, sanitary, and dignified accommodation for workers where employer-provided housing is applicable.
Nutrition Standards
Ensuring safe, adequate, and nutritious food provisions for workers where employer-provided meals are applicable.
Open Reporting
Transparent disclosure of environmental, social, and governance performance to stakeholders and the public.
Renewable Energy Use
Transition to sustainable energy sources including solar, wind, hydro, and other renewables in production and operations.
Responsible Procurement
Ethical sourcing and purchasing practices that consider environmental, social, and governance factors in supplier selection.
Rights and Equality
Ensuring non-discrimination and equal treatment regardless of race, gender, religion, disability, or other protected characteristics.
Substance Control
Banning or restricting harmful materials and substances of concern in product composition and manufacturing.
Supplier Sustainability
Ensuring suppliers meet environmental, social, and governance requirements through assessment, monitoring, and collaboration.
Supply Chain Labor Rights
Ensuring fair treatment of workers throughout the supply chain including subcontractors and informal workers.
Supply Chain Traceability
Tracking product origins, components, and transformations throughout the supply chain to enable transparency and accountability.
Sustainability Policies
Formal organizational commitments, policies, and targets for environmental, social, and governance performance.
Transparent Communication
Public disclosure and reporting of sustainability policies, performance, and progress to stakeholders.
Waste Minimization
Reducing waste generation through prevention, reuse, and improved production processes across the product lifecycle.
Water Conservation
Sustainable water management including efficient use, pollution prevention, and watershed protection throughout operations and supply chains.
Worker Representation
Respecting freedom of association, collective bargaining rights, and worker participation in workplace governance.
Workplace Hazard Control
Systematic identification, assessment, and mitigation of workplace hazards to reduce risk of injury and illness, including incident reporting, investigation, and corrective action.
Workplace Safety
Protecting worker health and safety through hazard prevention, protective equipment, and safe working environments.
Youth Protection
Safeguarding young workers from hazardous conditions and eliminating child labor in all forms across supply chains.
Criterion Scoring Framework
The scoring framework defines severity levels used to classify findings during VAP assessments.
PRI: Priority Non-conformance
Severity: 1
Definition: "A finding leading to imminent risk to life, limb, facility, environment, or community; OR an egregious ethical breach."
MAJ: Major Non-conformance
Severity: 2
Definition: "A violation of applicable law; OR a systemic failure; OR affecting 20% or more of the sample population."
MIN: Minor Non-conformance
Severity: 3
Definition: "A one-off incident not likely to repeat; OR affecting less than 20% of the sample population."
RON: Risk of Non-conformance
Severity: 4
Definition: "A condition meeting minimal conformance but likely to deteriorate without additional action."
OFI: Opportunity for Improvement
Severity: 5
Definition: "A situation not fully in conformance where a CAP is recommended but not mandatory."
CON: Conformance
Severity: 6
Definition: "The facility meets or exceeds the assessment criteria."
Recognition Levels
Overall facility assessment recognition tiers based on cumulative finding severity and score calculation.
PLAT: Platinum
Min Score: 180
Definition: "Score 180-200. No Priority or Major findings. Industry-leading."
GOLD: Gold
Min Score: 160
Definition: "Score 160-179. No Priority findings. Excellent performance."
SILV: Silver
Min Score: 140
Definition: "Score 140-159. No Priority findings. Good performance."
REC: Recognized
Min Score: 100
Definition: "Score 100-139. No open Priority findings. Baseline."
LOW: Low Performance
Min Score: 0
Definition: "Score below 100. Below minimum threshold."
Standard Alignment
| Name | Alignment Level |
|---|---|
| UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights | Meets |
| UN Global Compact Ten Principles | Meets |
| OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises | Meets |
| OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains | Meets |
| ISO 26000:2010 Guidance on Social Responsibility | Meets |
| ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems | Meets |
| ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety | Meets |
| ILO C029 - Forced Labour Convention (1930) | Meets |
| ILO C087 - Freedom of Association Convention (1948) | Meets |
| ILO C098 - Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) | Meets |
| ILO C100 - Equal Remuneration Convention (1951) | Meets |
| ILO C105 - Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (1957) | Meets |
| ILO C111 - Discrimination Convention (1958) | Meets |
| ILO C138 - Minimum Age Convention (1973) | Meets |
| ILO C155 - Occupational Safety and Health Convention (1981) | Meets |
| ILO C182 - Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999) | Meets |
| ILO C187 - Promotional Framework for OHS Convention (2006) | Meets |
| UN Convention Against Corruption | Meets |
| UN Convention on the Rights of the Child | Meets |
| CEDAW - Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women | Meets |
Regulatory Alignment
| Name | Jurisdiction | Alignment Level |
|---|---|---|
| Dodd-Frank Act Section 1502 | US | Meets |
| Federal Acquisition Regulation - Combating Trafficking in Persons | US | Meets |
| EU Conflict Minerals Regulation 2017/821 | EU | Meets |
| UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 | UK | Meets |
| German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) | DE | Meets |
| Australian Modern Slavery Act 2018 | AU | Meets |
Scope
| Code | Name | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products | ISIC Rev.4 |
| 27 | Manufacture of electrical equipment | ISIC Rev.4 |
| 28 | Manufacture of machinery and equipment | ISIC Rev.4 |
| 29 | Manufacture of motor vehicles | ISIC Rev.4 |
| 30 | Manufacture of other transport equipment | ISIC Rev.4 |
| 62 | Computer programming and consultancy | ISIC Rev.4 |
Change Log
7.1.2 (2022-06-01)
Added
- Category-specific management-system criteria AM/BM/CM/DM (split from the 7.0.0 generic system)
- Time-record accuracy requirements across working-hours criteria
Changed
- Young-worker overtime/night-work Priority triggers expanded (A3)
- Discrimination/harassment scope broadened (A5)
- Responsible-minerals due-diligence threshold tightened to >20% (E3)
Removed
- Health and Safety Communication (B8) discontinued
- Pollution Prevention and Resource Reduction (C2) discontinued
7.0.0 (2021-01-01)
Added
- Initial 35-criterion VAP composition under RBA Code of Conduct 7.0