ISO 26000 Workshop
Using ISO 26000
in a structured way
CSR Europe
London, 21. September 2012, at Ricoh Europe;
by Guido Gürtler
ISO 26000 Workshop
Contents
-
What is social responsibility (SR)?
ISO 26000 characteristics
Many other CSR approaches
Using ISO 26000
26k-user-guide and 26k-issue-tool
26k-select software
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
What is “social responsibility”?
- A (co-)responsibility for society…
- …for the well-being and development of society
- Expressed through “socially responsible behaviour”…
- …by individuals and organizations
- …including business and government.
Social responsibility (SR) is implemented through
“contributions to society”
based on an active stakeholder dialogue
Behaviours make SR, not processes
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
ISO 26000 characteristics
- Offers “guidance”, is not a “guideline”…
- …directed to all types and sizes of organizations
- Contains recommendations, advice, and orientation
- Is not a management system standard
- Does not contain requirements -> is not certifiable
- Is not for assessments and…
- …not for contractual use
- …in no way obligatory
Organizations decide about the use,
voluntarily, and in their sole responsibility
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
ISO 26000 structure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Scope
Terms and definitions
Understanding SR
Principles of SR
Recognizing SR and engaging stakeholders
Guidance on SR core subjects
(7 core subjects and 37 issues)
7. Guidance on integrating SR throughout an
organization
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
ISO 26000, main strengths
- Broad international consensus (ISO consensus,
trying to balance content and applicability)
-
good orientation for starting a SR/CSR journey
good basis for stakeholder dialogue
good basis for company-external discussions
good basis for cross-border dialogues
freedom of use: offering guidance where users
may select from the parts judged relevant at a
particular point of time
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
ISO 26000, main weaknesses
-
need to purchase the document (€50 to €160)
explicit inclusion of SMEs incl. micro-organizations
volume, complexity, in part redundant
large emphasis on consumer issues
several weak definitions (like organization,
stakeholder, international norms of behaviour)
- too focused on organization-internal processes, less
on possible contributions to society
- claiming relevance of all core subjects to all orgs
- remarkable potential of misconceptions and misuse
http://www.26k-estimation.com/html/misconceptions_and_misuse.html#Misuse
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
Why is ISO 26000 not for certification?
Because
• Societies are different
• Their demands/expectations vary dramatically, and over time
• Organizations are different
• There is no “one way” to contribute to society
• Certification would address the formal side while substantive
SR promotes well-being
• Certificates detract attention from substantive SR
• Certificates may lull management into a false sense of security
Certifying to ISO 26000 is misusing
the guidance standard
More at http://www.26k-estimation.com/html/misconceptions_and_misuse.html#Misuse
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
Substantive SR vs. process SR
Substantive SR
creative contributions to society
in an endless variety
Process SR
limited variety
(certificate)
Situations are in permanent change:
societies
Laws
needs
organizations
regulations
expectations
individuals
preparedness
co-operations
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
…..
ISO 26000 Workshop
There are many other codes in use
UN Global
Compact
UNDHR
International norms of
behaviour
ISO 26000
DJSI
National SR
standards
GRI
AA1000
SA 8000
Trade
Associations’
Codes of Conduct
National SR Laws and
Regulations
EFQM
ILO Conventions
Labour standards
Environment
standards
There is nothing wrong in not using ISO 26000, but…
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
……
ISO 26000 Workshop
ISO 26000 use
- Is voluntary
- Meet demands of (mostly local) society
- Orientation on SR core subjects and issues
(but there are also other SR issues)
- Identify/select issues of actual importance
- Specify your possible contributions to society,
regardless by which internal processes
- Make your way known
Each organization is different…
…each society is different…
…each situation is different…
each use of ISO 26000 is unique
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
Large enterprises and ISO 26000
No enterprise has eagerly waited for ISO 26000, since many
other tools are already practiced;
however, ISO 26000 offers a good orientation, so that some




explicitly use its structure/headlines in their reporting
use it without mentioning it
don’t use it
include statement of use into their reporting
Either way is reasonable: “ISO 26000 = guidance”
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
There are several ISO 26000 tools around:
- Complex ones
- Easy-to-handle ones….
Auto diagnostic tool (Alares Foundation): http://www.rspymes.es
CSR self assessment tool for schools http://csr.eslcompany.com
ISO 26k self assessment tool
(http://www.google.es/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=26&ved=0CF0QF
jAFOBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbi.eu%2Fdownload%2Fsub document%2FSelf asse ssment ISO 26000
issues.xls&ei=OKrQT8-FCsOU0QXJj83JCw&usg=AFQjCNHFeoBV6tBGCzqkOEdwU2XEnYuIcw&sig2=8PFckZ2A2 1bgbsC-le-PSA)
ISO 26000: Practical guide for SMEs http://responsabilitate-sociala.org/wpcontent/uploads/2011/08/ISO 26000 Practical Guide SITE.pdf
ECOLOGIA Handbook for SMEs,
http://www.ecologia.org/isosr/ISO26000Handbook.pdf
NORMAPME ISO 26000 user guide for European SMEs,
http://www.normapme.eu/en/page/45/corporate-social-responsibility
ISO 26000 Free toolkit http://www.llco.lu/blog/?p=126 -> www.26k-estimation.com
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
26k-issue-tool
Six questions per issue, with decreasing significance:
1. Is the core subject or its issues deemed relevant to your
organization?
2. What leverage does your organization have on this issue?
3. What kind of activities can your organization undertake on
this issue?
4. Are your possible activities in line with applicable law?
5. What impact will your possible activities have?
6. Which stakeholders would you involve in this issue?
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
26k-issue-tool, basic logic
core
subject A
issue A1
issue A2
issue A3
issue A...
core
subject B
issue B...
Relevance?
Leverage?
YES
continue with
issues of
core subject A
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
continue with A3
YES
YES
continue with
core subject C
NO
ActiviImpact?
ties?
NO
continue
with
A2
YES
YES
YES
YES
Law?
Stakeholder?
YES
YES
YES
NO
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
26k-issue-tool, Excel sheet, excerpt
How to use this tool? Please see "Step 5 You can identify the relevance…" of the 26k-user-guide.
26k-Issue-Tool for using ISO 26000
© Guido Guertler All rights reserved
Please observe the details of
handling this copyright as
described in line 58 column B and
C at the end of this Excel sheet
Question 1
CORE SUBJECTS and
ISSUES
6.2 Organizational Governance
Accountability, transparency, ethical
behavior, respect for stakeholder
interests, and respect for the rule of
law
6.3 Human rights
Due diligence
Human rights risk situations
Avoidance of complicity
Is the core subject and its issues
judged relevant for my
organization?
Question 2
What leverage does my
organization have on this issue?
answer
answer
answer
answer
answer
Question 3
What kind of activities can my
organization undertake on this
issue?
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
answer
ISO 26000 Workshop
How to decide on the relevance of a
core subject or an issue?
It’s an organization’s free decision
A possible result of the stakeholder dialogue
To decide in view of e.g.:
…prevailing applicable law
…other codes used
…product spectrum
…size of organization
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
Examples of decisions on the relevance of a
core subject or an issue?
 An automotive components manufacturer may consider
“consumer issues” an irrelevant core subject
 So also e.g. schools or hospitals on “community involvement
and development”
 An enterprise conducting business only in Europe may
consider guidance on “human rights” irrelevant because law
exists and is properly enforced
 A German manufacturer may consider the issue “Health and
safety at the workplace” irrelevant in view of social dialogue,
national law, and regulation
 A local company may consider all guidance on
“international norms of behaviour” not relevant
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
The 26k-select® software
This software portrays the 26k-issue-tool (excel sheet ), but offers a
significant added value:
1. Interactive ISO 26000 application projects
2. Progressing in steps, not overlooking any item
3. Flexibility: Application projects may be designed for an entire
enterprise, a business unit, a regional unit, or a just
a department or a group
4. Storage of application projects; the issue analysis can be
completed at any time; repeated analysis after a time
5. Inclusion of, and reference to, relevant existing documents
6. 26k-select produces a WORD document on the results
7. Complete documentation of considerations for e.g. stakeholder
dialogue.
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
The European Commission's final draft
"A renewed EU strategy 2011 - 2014 for Corporate Social
Responsibility“ of November 2011
is remarkable in some aspects:
 The EU urges enterprises with more than 1000 employees to
voluntarily engage more in CSR
 The EU takes into account the special role and situation of
European SMEs
 The EU gives equal importance to UNGC, GRI, or ISO 26000
 The EU envisages regulation if a voluntary approach does
not work properly.
Using the 26k-issue-tool resp. the
26k-select software
meets the EC’s expectations
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
26k-user-guide and 26k-issue-tool*, availability:
English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Czech, German
In the pipeline: Arabic, Lao
http://www.26k-estimation.com/html/user_guides_iso_26000.html
http://www.26k-estimation.com/html/the_26k-issue-tool.html
26k-select software:
German: October 2012
English, French, Spanish: autumn 2012 onwards
Other languages: to be defined
*referenced by IFAN, the International Federation of Standards Users, see
http://www.ifan.org/ifanportal/livelink/fetch/2000/2035/36282/394607/soci
al_responsibility/index-sr.html
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
What are the final recommendations to larger
companies:
 Take into account its increasing global recognition
 Check its add value
 Have prepared your position; you may be asked for
 If you use ISO 26000, communicate it
 Encourage your supply chain to use ISO 26000,
but don’t make this a contractual requirement
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
…and how to communicate the use?
It’s your choice, you may:
 Use the ISO recommended text (or vary it)
 Use your own text, separate, or as part of your
CSR reporting
 Practice a “self-declaration”
 Publish “We are an ISO 26000 enterprise.”
 Use the recommended logo
 Other options
…but always accompanied by information on facts
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
Thank you for your attention.
Some slides in annex …
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
ISO 26000 Workshop
Guido Gürtler
NORMAPME expert and ICC observer to ISO 26000
ACE26000 (Advice, Creativity, Efficiency in using ISO 26000)
Castro 17
Farmerstr. 17
E-36948 Hío, Cangas
D-82194 Gröbenzell
T +34 986 32 82 88
T +49 8421 570933
M +49 173 350 27 22
guido.guertler@t-online.de
Skype: ace26k
www.26k-estimation.com
www.ace26k.com
on ISO 26000
micro-company
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
Annex
ISO 26000, scope, excerpt
“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.”
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
Annex
Draft proposal, in line with ISO‘s recommendations
ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility
Communication on its application
We hereby state that our organization is well acquainted with ISO 26000,
its 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 ISO 26000 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…..
Signature(s)…..
Address
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
Annex
26k-user-guide
Tip 1: Purchase ISO 26000; look for the best price, e.g. at
http://www.26k-estimation.com/html/best_prices_for_iso_26000.html
Tip 2: Deny certification offers because certification is a misuse
of ISO 26000.
Tip 3: If certification bodies approach you, ask them how they
use ISO 26000 for their own organization.
Tip 4: Disapprove certification because it is counter-productive
to the enhancement of social responsibility.
Tip 5: Do not hesitate to inform government that ISO 26000
must not to be used for regulatory purposes.
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
Annex
26k-user-guide
Tip 6: Do not hesitate to warn business partners that ISO 26000
is not applicable for contractual use.
Tip 7: Several ISO 26000 issues may be covered by national law.
Consult e.g. your trade association because ISO 26000
guidance is basically not relevant in such cases.
Tip 8: Decide whether your entity is an “organization”* as
defined in ISO 26000.
Tip 9: Use the 26k-issue-tool to identify core subjects and
issues which you consider relevant to your organization.
* “2.12 organization
entity or group of people and facilities with an arrangement of
responsibilities, authorities and relationships and identifiable objectives”
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
Annex
26k-user-guide
Tip 10: Don’t be surprised if not all issues of all core subjects
are judged relevant to your organization.
Tip 11: Don’t be too happy with your analysis because an ISO
document cannot cover all possibilities; feel encouraged to
look for additional items that could be favorably applied
in your unique situation to meet actual needs of “your”
society (substantive SR).
Tip 12: Use the findings of your application of the
26k-issue-tool as a most valuable input for your
stakeholder dialogue.
Tip 13: Feel encouraged using the EFQM model (or others) for
your own estimation of the added value of ISO 26000;
include your findings into your stakeholder dialogue.
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London
Annex
26k-user-guide
Tip 14: Compare ISO 26000 with trade associations’ codes of
ethics or codes of conduct and decide which code or
“mixture of codes” you want to follow.
Tip 15: as SME you may conduct the analysis and the stakeholder
dialogue jointly with representatives of your trade association
and/or other trade association members.
Tip 16: If you find alternative offers, which better meet your
expectations, use ISO 26000 in a complementary way.
Add a related remark to your ISO 26000 communication.
Tip 17: Use the ISO-recommended communication towards
customers, suppliers, governments and other stakeholders.
Tip 18: Accept this kind of SR communication from your partners.
CSR Europe, ISO 26000 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London