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Tavares Group Blog

ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Standard Development Status

By: Sandra Tavares, Principal, Tavares Group Consulting Inc.
February 2010

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) released the Draft International Standard ISO/DIS 26000: Guidance on Social Responsibility for ballot by its national member organizations in September 2009. The voluntary standard, applicable to all types of organisations, describes seven social responsibility (SR) principles, two fundamental practices, seven core subjects (further subdivided into issues) and related actions and expectations, in addition to practices for integrating SR throughout an organization’s operations. Because of the global multi-stakeholder process, ISO’s standing as a leader in the development of international voluntary standards, and the lack of a unified globally accepted SR framework, ISO 26000 will likely become the adopted worldwide SR benchmark.

Voting by national member bodies on the Draft International Standard closes 14 February 2010. If the DIS is approved, comments received will be considered when assembling the final version at the next meeting in Copenhagen on 17-21 May 2010. A Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) would then be issued in Summer or Fall 2010 for a two month ballot. Publication as an ISO standard would follow by the end of 2010. Stay tuned for more updates on the standard.

If you want to find out more about the contents of the standard, join us 3 November 2010 for the “Corporate Social Responsibility – Acting today for sustainable business tomorrow” session at Sunningdale Golf & Country Club, which also includes local SR initiatives participation from TD Canada Trust.