ISO 26000 – Social Responsibility Management System

Further details

ISO 26000 represents the international standard that provides guidance for social responsibility. This ISO can be used for a variety of organizations in both the public and private sectors located in developed or developing countries. ISO 26000 helps them behave in a socially responsible manner that society increasingly wants.

Why is ISO 26000 important?
Sustainable trade for organizations not only means providing services and products that satisfy the customer, and does so without compromising the environment, but also in a socially responsible manner. Customers, consumers, governments, unions and, more broadly, the general public are forcing it to do so. Meanwhile, far-sighted managers know that sustainable success is built on credible business practices and avoids activities such as fraudulent accounting and business exploitation.

On the one hand, a number of important statements have been published on the rules of social responsibility, and on the other hand, there are many individual social responsibility programs and initiatives. The challenge is how to apply the rules, and how social responsibility can be implemented effectively and efficiently, even when the understanding of the meaning of “social responsibility” may vary from program to program.

ISO 26000 provides guidance to all types of organizations, regardless of their size or location, on:

• concepts, terms and definitions related to social responsibility;
• the background, trends and characteristics of social responsibility;
• principles and practices relating to social responsibility;
• the core subjects and issues of social responsibility;
• integrating, implementing and promoting socially responsible behavior throughout the organization and, through its policies and practices, within its sphere of influence;
• identifying and engaging with stakeholders; and
• communicating commitments, performance and other information related to social responsibility.

ISO 26000 is intended to assist organizations in contributing to sustainable development. It is intended to encourage them to go beyond legal compliance, recognizing that compliance with law is a fundamental duty of any organization and an essential part of their social responsibility. It is intended to promote common understanding in the field of social responsibility, and to complement other instruments and initiatives for social responsibility, not to replace them.

In applying ISO 26000, it is advisable that an organization take into consideration societal, environmental, legal, cultural, political and organizational diversity, as well as differences in economic conditions, while being consistent with international norms of behavior.

ISO 26000 is intended to provide organizations with guidance concerning social responsibility and can be used as part of public policy activities. ISO 26000 is not intended to provide a basis for legal actions, complaints, defenses or other claims in any international, domestic or other proceeding, nor is it intended to be cited as evidence of the evolution of customary international law.

ISO 26000 is not intended to prevent the development of national standards that are more specific, more demanding, or of a different type.

What are the achievements of ISO 26000?

ISO 26000 introduces international expertise into social responsibility and explains what it means, what organization needs to address in order to be socially responsible, and what is best at implementing social responsibility. The ISO 26000 will be a powerful social responsibility tool that helps organizations move from good ideas to good performance.

The need for ISO to function was first met in 2001 by a social responsibility standard. In 2003, the Social Responsibility Specialist Group formed by the ISO Technical Management Board conducted a comprehensive review of initiatives and issues of social responsibility around the world. In 2004, he held an international conference with various shareholders on whether to pursue social responsibility. The outcome of the conference was positive, and in late 2004 the ISO Working Group put the preparation of a new ISO 26000 standard on the agenda.

ISO has begun developing the new ISO 26000 standard by providing optional guidance on social responsibility.

ISO 26000 will be available for a variety of organizations in both the public and private sectors located in developed or developing countries.

ISO 26000 adds value to social responsibility by the following:

International consensus on the meaning of social responsibility and issues of social responsibility that organizations need to address.

Provide guidance on how to make it effective.

Prevention of the best solutions that were used in advance and global distribution of information in favor of the international community.

ISO 26000 adds value to the existing social responsibility initiative by providing consistent and global guidance based on international consensus among the expert representatives of the core shareholders group, thus enabling the implementation of the best solutions in social responsibility worldwide.

Benefits of ISO implementation:

– Increase customer and consumer confidence

– Increasing the quality of products/services

– Reduce waste and losses in products/services and ultimately reduce costs

– Save on consumables and increase profits

– Planning, implementation of affairs in the form of a predefined international system

– Improve performance, increase productivity and speed in affairs

– Increase efficiency and customer satisfaction

– Reducing the number of complaints

– Improvement and uniformity in the quality of products/services

– Timely delivery of products/services

– Global competition

– Prevent or reduce unexpected events

– Earning points in tenders, obtaining ranks and grades from government organizations, providing evidence in exports

– Advertising use in headers, company site and all advertising matters

– Earn points in selecting sample units

– Reduce waste and waste time

– Creating confidence inside and outside the organization

– Transparency of processes and indicators

– Ensuring that customer needs and expectations are met

– Production of product/service with better quality

– Help with more marketing and sales and create demand

– Increasing the productivity and motivation of human resources

– Correcting errors and preventing their recurrence

– Improving communication within the organization

– Prevention of non-compliant product/service production

– Develop sales methods and provide after-sales service