ISO 26000:2010
The international technical standard ISO 26000 on Social Responsibility was published on 1 November 2010. It is important to clarify that it is not a certifiable standard, but rather a framework that provides guidelines, recommendations, and guidance.
An organization that adopts and applies ISO 26000 must take into account its brand essence and identity. In other words, it must refer to awareness and competence, identification and engagement, priorities, integration, and communication.
ISO 26000 is a recognized international standard that provides guidelines on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Social responsibility plays a crucial role in defining corporate development strategies and is becoming increasingly important in sustainable development. As a practical and operational tool, the standard addresses topics such as the involvement of different organizational functions, risk analysis, staff awareness and training, as well as reflection on the organization’s sphere of influence and on the direct and indirect impacts of its activities.
ISO 26000 focuses on identifying and engaging the various organizational areas related to social responsibility. In particular, it identifies seven core subjects:
Organizational governance
Human rights
Labour practices
The environment
Consumer issues
Fair operating practices (internal involvement)
Community involvement and development
A total of 400 experts and 175 observers from 91 countries around the world participated in drafting the standard.
Core Values
The ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility is based on the following values:
Accountability
Transparency
Ethical behaviour
Respect for stakeholder interests
Respect for the rule of law
Respect for international standards of behaviour
Respect for human rights
ISO 26000 does not include any verification of implementation, nor does it lead to certification. Each country is free to determine how it is applied.
Key Points
UNI EN ISO 26000 is suitable for any type of organization, public or private. As support to the standard, Practice PdR 18:2016 provides useful application guidance for UNI ISO 26000 to help organizations gain maximum benefit in terms of economic performance, competitiveness, and sustainability.
According to UNI ISO 26000, an organization should examine all core subjects in order to identify the specific relevant issues. The aspects monitored by the standard include non-compliance with laws, discrepancies with international norms, potential human rights violations, activities that endanger life, and activities that may harm the environment.
Benefits
An organization implementing ISO 26000 enjoys several advantages over competitors operating in the same market. In particular:
Optimization of internal processes
Reduction of risk factors
Increased employee morale
Strengthened brand reputation
Attraction of investors, sponsors, stakeholders, and the financial community
An organization that adopts socially responsible behaviour under ISO 26000 must respect the seven key principles: accountability, transparency, ethical behaviour, respect for stakeholders, respect for the law, respect for international standards of behaviour, and respect for human rights.
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM GUIDANCE IMPLEMENTATION PATH
A management system is the way an organization manages the interrelated parts of its business in order to achieve its objectives. These objectives may relate to various areas, including product or service quality, operational efficiency, environmental performance, occupational health and safety, social responsibility, and many others.
The level of complexity of the system depends on the specific context of each organization. For some organizations—especially smaller ones—it may simply mean having strong leadership from the business owner, providing a clear definition of what is expected from each employee and how they contribute to the organization’s overall objectives, without the need for extensive documentation. More complex organizations operating in highly regulated sectors may require detailed documentation and extensive controls to meet legal obligations and achieve organizational goals.
• Step 1 – Request for Proposal
The organization submits a request for support in implementing ISO 26000 guidelines.
• Step 2 – Initial Evaluation of Information
The Technical Secretariat reviews the completeness of the information and, with support from the Technical Manager, issues a tailored proposal for ISO 26000 implementation assistance.
• Step 3 – Commercial Confirmation
The organization sends QSHellas a signed order confirmation.
• Step 4 – Planning of Activities
Once the dates have been agreed upon with the organization and the consultant/auditor, the Technical Secretariat sends the official plan of activities for acceptance.
• Step 5 – Gap Assessment and Implementation Support
Execution of onsite or remote assessments to evaluate the level of alignment with ISO 26000 guidelines.
If the assessment is successful:
• Step 6 – Documentation and Process Review
Verification of completeness and consistency of the implemented practices and documentation by the Technical Manager.
• Step 7 – Management Review and Validation
Internal validation of the implementation of ISO 26000 principles and guidelines.
• Step 8 – Issuance of a Compliance Statement (Non-Certification)
The organization may receive a statement of conformity or an internal report acknowledging alignment with ISO 26000 guidelines.
(ISO 26000 does not provide for certification.)
The measures required by ISO 26000 are designed to be integrated with existing management processes and controls. The standard follows the general principles of social responsibility and can be easily integrated with other management system standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001. New or improved practices can be integrated into existing systems.