ISO 26000

Richard Welford CSR Asia

www.csr-asia.com
CSR Asia 2010

ISO26000: Now we know what CSR is not

It is not about:
1. 2. 3. 4. Giving away money Planting a few trees PR photo opportunities Feeling good and being a caring company

Seven principles of Social responsibility

Recognizing social responsibility Seven core subjects

Stakeholder identification and engagement

Accountability

Organizational governance

Transparency

Human rights

Labour practices

The environment

Fair operating practices

Consumer issues

Community Involvement & development

Ethical behaviour

Related actions and expectations (issues)

Respect for stakeholder interests Integrating social responsibility into the organization Relationship of the organizations characteristics to social responsibility

Respect for the rule of law

Respect for international norms of behaviour Voluntary initiatives on social responsibility Practices for integrating social responsibility throughout the organization

Understanding the social responsibility of the organization

Communication on social responsibility

Respect for human rights

Reviewing and improving the organisations actions and practices related to social responsibility

Enhancing credibility regarding social responsibility

Principles: Accountability

Accountability for its impacts on society and the environment The organization should accept and encourage scrutiny Accountability imposes an obligation to be answerable to stakeholders An organization should account for: the results of its decisions and activities, including significant consequences, even if they were unintended or unforeseen; and the significant impacts of its decisions and actions on society and the environment

Principles: Transparency
An organisation should be transparent in its decisions and activities that impact on society and the environment Clear, accurate and complete disclosure of policies, decision-making and activities The organization should be transparent with respect to:
the purpose, nature and location of its activities the manner in which decisions are made, implemented and reviewed the impacts of its activities on society and the environment

Principles: Ethical behaviour

An organization should behave ethically at all times based on principles of honesty, equity and integrity The organization should promote ethical conduct by:

developing governance structures that promote ethical conduct identifying, adopting and applying its own standards of ethical behaviour encouraging and promoting good standards of ethical behaviour establishing oversight mechanisms establishing mechanisms for reporting of violations

Principles: Respect for stakeholder interests

An organization should respect, consider and respond to the interests of its stakeholders The organization should:
Identify its stakeholders Respond to the needs of its stakeholders Recognize the legal rights and legitimate interests of stakeholders Consider the views of stakeholders that may be affected by a decision even if they have no formal role in the governance of the organization

Principles: Respect for the rule of law

An organization should accept that respect for the rule of law is mandatory The organization should:
comply with legal and regulatory requirements ensure that is relationships and activities fall within the intended and relevant legal framework remain informed of legal obligations periodically review compliance

Principles: Respect for international norms of behaviour

In countries where national law or its implementation does not provide for minimum environmental or social safeguards, an organization should strive to respect international norms of behaviour In situations of conflict with international norms of behaviour, and where not following these norms would have significant consequences, an organization should, as feasible and appropriate, review the nature of its activities and relationships within that jurisdiction

Principles: Respect for human rights

An organization should respect human rights and recognize their importance and their universality

Recognizing core subjects

Human rights

Community involvement and development

Materiality:
Labour practices

Identification of relevant issues Assess significance of impacts Consider impacts on stakeholders Consider sphere of influence

Organizational governance
The environment Fair operating practices

Consumer issues

Materiality Matrix

Crucial

Importance to stakeholder

Policy clarified in communications

Communicate focus: Including performance indicators and measurement

Not included

Impact clarified in communications

Little importance

Relevance/importance to business

Crucial

Consider your sphere of influence

Core business activities

Supply chains

Community interaction

Public policy & advocacy

Communication on social responsibility

The role of communications in social responsibility
Demonstrate accountability and transparency Disclosure of information relating to corporate responsibility

Characteristics of information relating to social responsibility

Understandable

Responsive

Demonstrating how the organization meets it commitments

Raising awareness inside and outside the organization Providing information about the impacts of the organizations operations Helping to engage and create dialogue with stakeholders Facilitating benchmarking among peer organizations Enhancing the organizations reputation

Accurate

Balanced

Timely

Available

Questions for the future

What is the implication of ISO26000 for CSR? ISO26000 represents the next CSR revolution How can ISO26000 guide CSR programmes? Emphasis on transparency, accountability and disclosure. What is the best way to communicate our social responsibility efforts?