ISO 26000 – Operating in a Socially Responsible Way
ISO (International Organisation for Standardization) is an independent, non-governmental organization representing the National Standard Institutes of over 150 countries. They develop and publish international standards in response to the needs of the international market and global expert opinions. There are certifiable ISO standards and non-certifiable standards, such as ISO 26000: Social Responsibility.
ISO 26000: Social Responsibility, being a non-certifiable standard, provides guidance rather than requirements. It helps organizations to understand what social responsibility is and provides recommendations on how to operate in a socially responsible way.
Why Adopt ISO?
There are many benefits to being ISO certified, which we discussed in a previous post here. Also, there are benefits to simply adopting ISO into your organization and using standards such as ISO 26000 to guide your management system processes and overall business principles.
ISO 26000: Social Responsibility
The guidance provided in ISO 26000 is designed to assist organizations in going beyond basic legal compliance, creating an environment promoting social responsibility in all areas. Social responsibility is defined as meaning “the responsibility of an organization for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and environment, through transparent and ethical behavior…“
Why Be Socially Responsible?
How people perceive an organization to be in terms of social responsibility can influence, among other things:
- competitive advantage;
- reputation;
- ability to attract and retain staff;
- employee commitment and efficiency;
- the views of key stakeholders; and,
- relationships with other organizations.
How to be a Socially Responsible Organization According to ISO 26000
ISO 26000 has seven key underlying principles and seven core subjects.
The Seven Principles of ISO 26000
- Accountability
- Transparency
- Ethical Behavior
- Respect for Stakeholder Interests
- Respect for the Rule of Law
- Respect for International Norms of Behavior
- Respect for Human Rights
The Seven Core Subjects
- Organizational Governance
- Human Rights
- Labor Practices
- The Environment
- Fair Operating Practices
- Consumer Issues
- Community Involvement and Development
Schematic Overview
Below is a schematic overview of ISO 26000 from the ISO website.
Detailed Guide to Social Responsibility
Click the button below to check the ISO’s detailed guide to ISO 26000 and turn your organization into a global leader in social responsibility.Certifiable ISO Standards
In Australia, the standards that are most common for certification are:
- ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems;
- ISO 22000 – Food Safety Management;
- ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems;
- ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management;
- ISO 31000 – Risk Management; and,
- ISO 27001 – Information Security.
Through quality processes, ISO-certified organizations are able to constantly monitor and improve their well-documented and structured processes. These organizations lead the way in terms of quality, efficiency, and productivity.
Each ISO standard has different specific benefits, and together they work to provide a solid and streamlined foundation for a successful organization. ISO-certified businesses tend to have better customer retention and satisfaction, lower staff turnover, and consistent quality outcomes.
An ISO-certified management system can also help to reduce costs, increase market share and gain access to new markets.
4 Steps to ISO
Get in touch with QSM Group today to discuss your ISO compliance and certification needs.
Our experienced consultants work with you to develop, implement and monitor your management systems. We can also assist with achieving certification to any desired certifiable ISO standards.
