PROCESS OF CERTIFICATION
Below we show you how the certification process unfolds. We describe the process from the moment a company applies to be assessed, to verify that the sustainability management model it has applied in its facilities and establishments complies with the TdS norm, to the moment the certificate is awarded and subsequent renewals are carried out.
The interested company will inform Tudestino Sostenible of its interest in obtaining the Tudestino Sostenible certificate, which will be processed through the relevant contract that will regulate, among others:
– The facilities and establishments included as well as the scope of the activities included.
– If there is a combination of different activities that may require an ad-hoc assessment process.
– The estimated timescales for completing the assessment process.
– The economic arrangements for the provision of the different services to be performed.
Once the conditions of the service have been agreed, the company will complete and send to Tudestino Sostenible the initial information that will facilitate the start of the evaluation process.
For this purpose, Tudestino Sostenible will provide the company with two questionnaires:
– Questionnaire CTdS-R-01 in which the company will have to go deeper in identifying which aspects can be controlled by the company and in which issues it has decision-making capacity and influence.
– Stakeholder Questionnaire CTdS-R-02, in which the company’s stakeholders will be determined, incorporating an analysis of the existing relationship and the company’s capacity to influence.
Tudestino Sostenible will assign a Certification Support Manager who will supervise the entire evaluation process prior to the external certification audit.
This person will analyse the information received and will be in charge of contacting the company to clarify any necessary information as well as planning the audit of the certification process.
In this way, the scope of the certificate and the areas in which the evaluation of the sustainability criteria of this standard will be applied will be established.
When the Head of Certification Support considers that the company meets the requirements and has the documentation to be audited, an external third-party request will be made.
At least 15 days prior to the agreed date, the Certification Support Manager, in agreement with the client, shall request an External Auditor to carry out the audit process.
This external auditor shall draw up the Audit Plan and send it to the company. In this plan, in addition to establishing the date and estimated duration (in days) for the audit, it shall indicate specific aspects of this audit process, such as:
– Calendar and planned schedule Activities to be reviewed
– Locations to be visited
– People or departments to be interviewed
– Standards to be followed during the audit process
– Other important issues: such as relevant documentation to be prepared in advance and even that may need to be sent for review prior to the audit.
In accordance with the agreed schedule, the External Auditor assigned to the company will visit the company’s facilities, during which they will interview those persons or departments that they had planned and will gather the necessary evidence to be able to evaluate the compliance of the sustainability management model implemented in the company with the requirements of the Tudestino Sostenible NORM.
Taking into account the determined scope, and the degree of compliance with the sustainability criteria of the Tudestino Sostenible standard determined by the assigned External Auditor, the latter will issue an Audit Report, which includes an assessment of compliance and the possible non-conformities found.
These non-conformities will be of two types:
– Critical: in the event that they must be clearly resolved in order to obtain the certificate.
– Basic: in the event that their treatment is only a proposal for improvement.
This report shall be drawn up and sent to the audited entity within the period agreed at the audit closure meeting, in no case more than 20 days from the date of the audit.
If necessary, the audited company or entity shall draw up a report with the corrective measures to be applied to resolve the Non-Conformities detected, as well as a timetable for their application.
This report shall be sent within the period agreed at the closing meeting of the Audit, and it is recommended that it does not exceed a period of one month from the sending of the Audit Report.
The External Auditor shall assess this Corrective Action Report and may request evidence or the inclusion of additional measures in the event that he/she considers that those proposed do not ensure the solution of the Non-Conformities detected.
Once the External Auditor considers that the proposed corrective measures ensure the improvement of the sustainability management model with regard to the Non-Conformities detected, they will review the Audit Report and send it to the Head of Certification Support, indicating the most relevant aspects to be taken into account in the certificate renewal audit.
In any case, they will propose to Tudestino Sostenible the granting of the Tudestino Sostenible certificate to the company for the activities and establishments included in the scope that has been the object of the evaluation carried out.
Tudestino Sostenible will issue the relevant certificate to the company, indicating:
– Reference number
– Scope
– Term of validity of the certificate
The certificate will be signed by the Certification Director of Tudestino Sostenible.
If after a period of two months from the request for evidence or new proposals for corrective actions, these are not sent or do not comply with the request, the audit process will be closed, without the tourist establishment having obtained this certificate.
In this case, it will be necessary to restart the certification process described in this document.
At least one month before the date of validity of the Tudestino Sostenible certificate, the company interested in its renewal must communicate to Tudestino Sostenible its interest in renewing it.
This communication will lead to the reopening of the evaluation process, following the same steps established in the previous sections.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS? CONTACT US:
Phone: (+34)653904689
E-mail: info@tudestino-sostenible.es
Address:
C/ Hermano Eugenio 1
11407 Jerez de la Frontera
Opening hours:
Mon— Fri 9:00 – 17:00