New ISO26000 Standard on Social Responsibility

The ISO26000 Standard has now been published. The Guidance on Social Responsibility had long been awaited, and as of November 2010 the wait is over. Companies and organizations across a wide variety of sectors are committed to ensuring that they conduct themselves in as socially responsible a manner as possible and the Standard’s guidance on the key elements of social responsibility are being studied with great interest.

How to Assess ISO26000

Unlike other ISO standards, companies cannot acquire certification in ISO26000 to prove that they have observed its strictures. One way forward, however, is for a company to acquire an independent third party assessment of its practices in order to evaluate its performance with regard to its social responsibilities.

SGS has thoroughly familiarized itself with ISO26000 and has developed a performance assessment methodology that can evaluate the extent to which organizations are fulfilling the responsibilities outlined in ISO26000 (www.sgs.com/white-paper-library/iso-26000-white-paper.htm). Companies can therefore be graded according to their performance with regard to the principles of social responsibility, including its fundamental practices and core subjects.

A full assessment of a company’s ISO26000 performance by SGS (www.sgs.com/iso26000) leads to a Statement of Performance, which states the grade achieved. An assessment of this kind can benefit companies enormously; a review of systems, procedures and practices can enable a true evaluation of strengths and weaknesses, enabling massive improvements to a company’s performance with regard to social responsibility and further ensuring improved relations with customers and stakeholders.

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 64'000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1'250 offices and laboratories around the world.

SGS Systems & Services Certification
Rebecca Bowens
Global Product Manager, Sustainability Report Assurance
SGS House, Johns Lane, Tividale, Birmingham B69 3HX, UK

E-mail: sustainable-development@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/iso26000

This release was published on openPR.