1. ISO 26000
Richard Welford
CSR Asia
© CSR Asia 2011

2. ISO26000: Now we know what CSR is not
It is not about:
Giving away money: Philanthropy is mentioned once
Planting a few trees
PR photo opportunities
Feeling good and being a caring organization

3. But be warned: It is a standard but it is for guidance only
It is not currently certifiable
It is not only for businesses
It is an ongoing process and not a ‘quick fix’
Use the standard to guide your material activities and for communications
You cannot use ISO26000 without engaging your stakeholders

4. The rationale for social responsibility
Brand and reputation
Attract and maintain employees, customers, clients
Employee commitment, morale productivity
Interest from investors and the financial community
Relationships with companies, government, the media, suppliers, peers, customers, communities
= Stakeholders!

5. The context Emphasis on sustainable development
A participative, open, stakeholder inclusive process leading to a standard agreed by over 90 countries
Representation from developed and developing countries, civil society organizations, labour organizations, government and business
Global recognition and support
The ISO brand
The most definitive and wide-ranging definition of social responsibility yet published
A challenging standard that widens traditional definitions of responsibility

6. Related actions and expectations (issues)
Seven principles of
Social responsibility
Recognizing social
responsibility
Stakeholder identification
and engagement
Seven core subjects
Accountability
Organizational
governance
Human rights
Labour practices
The environment
Fair operating practices
Consumer issues
Community Involvement & development
Transparency
Ethical behaviour
Related actions and expectations (issues)
Respect for
stakeholder
interests
Integrating social responsibility into the organization
Relationship of the organization’s characteristics to social responsibility
Understanding the social responsibility of the organization
Respect for the
rule of law
Practices for integrating social responsibility throughout the organization
Respect for international norms
of behaviour
Voluntary initiatives on social responsibility
Communication on social responsibility
Respect for human rights
Reviewing and improving the organisation’s actions and practices related to social responsibility
Enhancing credibility regarding social responsibility

7. 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

8. Principles: Transparency
An organization 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Principles: Respect for human rights
An organization should respect human rights and recognize their importance and their universality
Organizations should be careful not to be complicit in human rights abuses

14. Recognizing core subjects
Organizational governance
Human rights
Labour practices
Fair operating practices
Consumer issues
The environment
Community involvement and development
Materiality:
Identification of relevant issues
Assess significance of impacts
Consider impacts on stakeholders and their concerns
Consider ‘sphere of influence’

15. Broadening the boundaries of responsibility
Broadening the boundaries of responsibility? Community involvement and development issues
Community involvement and engagement
Education and culture
Employment creation and skills development
Technology development and access to appropriate technology
Wealth and income creation, poverty alleviation
Community and public health
Social investment (including philanthropy)

16. Recognizing core subject areas: Materiality matrix and communications
Crucial
Policy clarified in
communications
Strategic focus:
Including performance indicators
and measurement
Importance to stakeholder
Not considered
Impacts clarified in
communications
Little importance
Relevance/importance to business
Crucial

17. Consider your ‘sphere of influence’
Core business activities
Public policy & advocacy
Value chains
Community
interaction

18. Communication on social responsibility
The role of communications in social responsibility
Characteristics of information relating to social responsibility
Demonstrate accountability and transparency
Disclosure of information relating to social responsibility
Demonstrating how the organization meets it commitments
Raising awareness inside and outside the organization
Providing information about significant impacts
Helping to engage stakeholders
Enhancing the organization’s reputation
Understandable
Responsive
Accurate
Balanced
Timely
Available

19. What are leading companies already doing?
Understanding the expectations of ISO26000
Training and capacity building, including all different functions, across the organization
Assessing their own CSR strategies against ISO26000 Principles and Core Subject Areas
Gap analysis: Strengths and weaknesses
Determining materiality of issues based on stakeholder priorities
Aligning policies and reporting with ISO26000

20. Strategic social responsibility
Capacity building (Training)
Capacity building (Training)
Principles
checklist
Communications
(Reporting)
Strengths
Gaps
Risks
Opportunities
Assessment
Issues
evaluation
Validation
Materiality check
(Materiality matrix)
Strategy
Stakeholder
Review Panel
Stakeholder
engagement

21. The future:
We now have a challenging, but workable definition of social responsibility with global credibility – this will help you define your responsibilities
Greater links with communities and the development agenda
Links between ISO26000, transparency and new modes of reporting and communications
Embedding stakeholders into governance structures
Your social responsibility activities will be judged against ISO26000

22. Thank you! www.csr-asia.com Richard Welford rwelford@csr-asia.com