ISO 26000 is not a certification standard; it is a guidance standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that provides organizations with guidance on social responsibility. However, ISO 26000 is not a certifiable standard like ISO 9001 or ISO 14001. It offers a framework for organizations to understand and integrate social responsibility into their operations and decision-making processes.
The key principles of ISO 26000 can be summarized as follows:
Accountability: Organizations should take responsibility for the impacts of their decisions and activities on society, the environment, and stakeholders. This includes being transparent about their actions and being accountable for any negative impacts.
Transparency: Organizations should be open and transparent in their communication, ensuring stakeholders have access to relevant and reliable information about the organization's social, environmental, and economic performance.
Ethical Behavior: Organizations should conduct their operations with integrity and ethical behavior, respecting applicable laws, international norms, and societal expectations. This includes promoting fairness, avoiding corruption, and respecting human rights.
Stakeholder Engagement: Organizations should engage and communicate with their stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, communities, and other relevant parties. The engagement should be inclusive and seek to understand their concerns, needs, and expectations.
Respect for Human Rights: Organizations should respect and support human rights, both within their own operations and throughout their supply chains. This includes avoiding complicity in human rights abuses and promoting a culture of respect and dignity for all.
Sustainable Development: Organizations should contribute to sustainable development, considering the environmental, social, and economic aspects. This involves integrating sustainability into their strategies, products, and services and working towards long-term viability.
Consumer Issues: Organizations should promote fair and responsible practices towards consumers. This includes providing safe and reliable products, transparent information, fair pricing, and effective customer support.
Supplier Relationships: Organizations should promote responsible and sustainable practices throughout their supply chains. This involves considering the social, environmental, and ethical impacts of their suppliers and working towards responsible sourcing.
Community Involvement and Development: Organizations should contribute to the well-being and development of the communities in which they operate. This can be through initiatives such as community development programs, supporting education and healthcare, and respecting cultural heritage.
Continuous Improvement: Organizations should strive for continual improvement in their social responsibility performance.
2. Understanding the Key Principles of ISO 26000 Certification
ISO 26000 is not a certification standard; it is a guidance standard developed by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that provides organizations with guidance
on social responsibility. However, ISO 26000 is not a certifiable standard like ISO 9001 or ISO
14001. It offers a framework for organizations to understand and integrate social responsibility
into their operations and decision-making processes.
The key principles of ISO 26000 can be summarized as follows:
Accountability: Organizations should take responsibility for the impacts of their decisions and
activities on society, the environment, and stakeholders. This includes being transparent about
their actions and being accountable for any negative impacts.
Transparency: Organizations should be open and transparent in their communication, ensuring
stakeholders have access to relevant and reliable information about the organization's social,
environmental, and economic performance.
Ethical Behavior: Organizations should conduct their operations with integrity and ethical
behavior, respecting applicable laws, international norms, and societal expectations. This
includes promoting fairness, avoiding corruption, and respecting human rights.
Stakeholder Engagement: Organizations should engage and communicate with their
stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, communities, and other relevant
parties. The engagement should be inclusive and seek to understand their concerns, needs, and
expectations.
3. Respect for Human Rights: Organizations should respect and support human rights, both within
their own operations and throughout their supply chains. This includes avoiding complicity in
human rights abuses and promoting a culture of respect and dignity for all.
Sustainable Development: Organizations should contribute to sustainable development,
considering the environmental, social, and economic aspects. This involves integrating
sustainability into their strategies, products, and services and working towards long-term
viability.
Consumer Issues: Organizations should promote fair and responsible practices towards
consumers. This includes providing safe and reliable products, transparent information, fair
pricing, and effective customer support.
Supplier Relationships: Organizations should promote responsible and sustainable practices
throughout their supply chains. This involves considering the social, environmental, and ethical
impacts of their suppliers and working towards responsible sourcing.
Community Involvement and Development: Organizations should contribute to the well-being
and development of the communities in which they operate. This can be through initiatives
such as community development programs, supporting education and healthcare, and
respecting cultural heritage.
Continuous Improvement: Organizations should strive for continual improvement in their
social responsibility performance. This involves setting targets, monitoring performance, and
taking appropriate actions to enhance social responsibility outcomes.
It's important to note that ISO 26000 is not a certifiable standard, but rather a guidance
document to help organizations improve their social responsibility practices. Organizations can
use ISO 26000 as a reference to align their operations with the principles and integrate social
responsibility into their overall management systems.
