ISO - ISO 26000 — Social responsibility (2024)

For businesses and organizations committed to operating in a socially responsible way, there’s ISO 26000.

It provides guidance to those who recognize that respect forsociety and environmentis a critical success factor. As well as beingthe “right thing”to do, application of ISO 26000 is increasingly viewed as a wayof assessing an organization’s commitment to sustainabilityand its overall performance.

When it comes to social responsibility, confidence has a nickname that’srecognized worldwide.Now you know it too: it’s ISO.

Highlights from our store

• ISO 26000:2010

  Guidance on social responsibility

ISO26000:2010 provides guidance rather than requirements, so it cannot be certified to unlike some other well-known ISO standards. Instead, it helps clarify what social responsibility is, helps businesses and organizations translate principles into effective actions and shares best practices relating to social responsibility, globally. It is aimed at all types of organizations regardless of their activity, size or location.

The standard was launched in 2010 following five years of negotiations between many different stakeholders across the world. Representatives from government, NGOs, industry, consumer groups and labour organizations around the world were involved in its development, which means it represents an international consensus.

Support for implementing ISO26000

ISO 26000 was developed by a working group of about 500 experts. At the publication of this standard, the working group was disbanded.

Document(s) to support the implementation of ISO26000:

• Communication Protocol– Describes appropriate wordings organizations can use to communicate about their use of ISO 26000
• ISO26000 basic training materials in the form of a PowerPoint and trainingprotocol guidance [PDF]
• Documents that link ISO26000 with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the United Nations 2030Agenda (Sustainable Development Goals)