ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility Correct use

ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility Correct use of ISO 26000 September 2010 Guido Guertler, ICC Observer and NORMAPME Expert to ISO/TMB WG Social Responsibility ; www. 26 k-estimation. com

What is a “guidance”? n n n Guidance is an offer: ISO 26000 offers recommendations, advice, proposals, and orientation Guidance versus guideline: - “guidance” is something from which to select what can be successfully applied - “guideline” would be something one needs to apply as a whole ISO 26000 deliberately is not a “guideline”

The ISO 26000 scope says: “This International Standard is not a management system standard. It is not intended or appropriate for certification purposes or regulatory or contractual use. Any offer to certify, or claims to be certified, to ISO 26000 would be a misrepresentation of the intent and purpose and a misuse of this International Standard. As this International Standard does not contain requirements, any such certification would not be a demonstration of conformity with this International Standard. ”

What is ISO 26000? n n n ISO 26000 is a guidance document, without requirements one could fulfill or meet One can follow a guidance but guidance cannot be “implemented” ISO 26000 is a “standard” only formally because it is published by a standards organization Its content is guidance that may be used by organizations, individually The Guidance is nothing “standardized” (so that / as if / it would apply everywhere in the same way)

An organization’s correct use internally 1/2 2. Selects, checks and prioritizes issues, using The Check Tool* 1. Evaluates the offered guidance My organization 3. Follows the guidance contained in selected issues 4. Communicates with and encourages others * Downloadable from http: //www. 26 kestimation. com/html/check_tool_iso_26000_download. html#Check. Tool

An organization’s correct use 2/2 The Check Tool isinternally designed to support the selection and prioritization process by identifying those issues where an organization can most effectively contribute to a more favorable development of society. The six questions per issue are: Is the core What subject and its leverage does issues judged my relevant organization for my have on this organization? issue? What kind of Have I What Which activities can ensured that impact stakeholders my planned will my could I organization activities are activities involve in undertake on not in conflict have? this issue? with applicable law? Selected are those issues where all six questions got positive answers; for these the ISO 26000 guidance can be usefully applied

Correct use externally 1/2 My organization uses ISO 26000 In contracts: NO* For certification: NO* For Encouragement: YES Business partners * Using ISO 26000 in contracts or for certification would be a misuse

Correct use externally 2/2 Customers Governments may use ISO 26000 YES For Encouragement NO In contracts: : YES For Encouragement In procurement NO : and contracts*: For certification: NO My organization uses ISO 26000 * According to the scope of ISO 26000 it would be a misuse making its application a condition in contracts (which includes public-private ones)

Communication 1/2 Task Group 2 of this ISO project (“Communication”) recommended to communicate about the use of ISO 26000 (see their Newsletter of 12 December 2009 at http: //www. 26 k-estimation. com/TG 2_N 089__SR_Newsletter_12_-_20091217__2_. pdf) or FAQ #9 on the ISO website at http: //isotc. iso. org/livelink/fetch/2000/2122/830949/3934883/393509 6/07_gen_info/faq. html): Communicating about ISO 26000 FAQ: How can my organization refer to its use of ISO 26000? ISO 26000 is a voluntary International Standard providing guidance on social responsibility. Organizations of all types are encouraged to acknowledge their support and use of ISO 26000 as follows: ”Organization” recognizes ISO 26000 as a reference document that provides guidance on social responsibility. and /or “Organization” has used ISO 26000 as a guide to integrate social responsibility into our values and practices.

Communication 2/2 A more practical master text for this communication (that may be individually adapted) is available at http: //www. 26 kestimation. com/html/user_guide_iso_26000. html#att 6 : We hereby state that our organization is well acquainted with ISO 26000, its kind and content, and how it may be used to prioritize and to work with social responsibility. We recognize ISO 26000 as a reference document that provides guidance on social responsibility. We have used it as a guide to integrate social responsibility into our values and practices. More details are given on <our website> and/or in <our report>. For any further information please contact the undersigned. Date and place…. . Name and Address Signature(s)…. .

Encouragement üFeel encouraged to practice a correct use of ISO 26000 üFeel great when encouraging others to follow your good example üFeel encouraged to notify* good and bad examples of using ISO 26000, for publication on www. 26 k-estimation. com * By mail to guido. guertler@t-online. de