Properly framing your CSR approach
In the business world, a CSR initiative doesn’t end with the development of a strategy. It must be translated into concrete actions, and the results must be monitored. To this end, standards provide guidelines and a methodology.
This is the case with the voluntary ISO 26000 standard.
What is ISO 26000?
The voluntary ISO 26000 standard is the only international standard dedicated to corporate social responsibility. It provides guidelines for adopting behavior that is socially responsible and environmentally friendly, offering a framework for understanding the subject through seven key questions. It aligns with the framework provided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In France, economic stakeholders are considering supplementing it with a voluntary standard that provides guidelines for building a European model of sustainable business. You can get a preview by watching the recording of a conference organized on the subject by AFNOR in November 2022
AFNOR Editions’ “Interactive Course” helps you quickly understand the NF EN ISO 26000 standard through digital content and practical examples of its application.
This provides a framework for all types of organizations (large companies, small businesses, local governments, NGOs, labor unions, etc.), regardless of their sector. Thanks to this framework, organizations adopt transparent and ethical practices aimed at:
- Contribute to sustainable development, including the health and well-being of society
- Take stakeholders' expectations into account
- Comply with applicable laws
How can you structure your CSR approach using ISO 26000?
ISO 26000 provides a strategic, multi-step framework applicable to any CSR initiative: identifying the impacts of the organization’s decisions and activities in relation to the core issues addressed in ISO 26000; and identifying and engaging with stakeholders.
ISO 26000 encourages every organization to structure its approach to social responsibility around seven key areas, in order to identify coherent areas for action and ensure nothing is overlooked: organizational governance, human rights, labor practices and working conditions, the environment, fair business practices, consumer issues, and communities and local development.
COVID-19, extreme weather events, the energy crisis… Recent, current, and future challenges underscore the importance of establishing a clear framework for your approach. And to do that effectively, you need to surround yourself with the right people!
What are the sector-specific versions of ISO 26000?
The agri-food sector does not have the same needs or expectations as the communications sector: how could a single standard address such different challenges? Sector-specific guidance documents for ISO 26000 have been developed so that each sector can adapt the standard to its specific needs.
Most recent: ISO 26030, for the agri-food sector . These sector-specific versions of the frameworks enable the awarding of sector-specific certifications. This solution, which has been piloted with industry associations, provides a framework for developing a tailored CSR policy. Since 2018, 18 industry associations have been selected to pilot sector-specific frameworks as part of a program led by the CSR Platform, an initiative of France Stratégie:
To properly structure your CSR approach, there’s nothing better than an assessment and an action plan based on the voluntary ISO 26000 standard. To highlight your commitment to social responsibility, consider sector-specific certifications as well! Wine and viticulture, communications agencies, quarries and construction materials…
The label specific to each of these sectors is based on ISO 26000. AFNOR Certification also operates private labels for manufacturers seeking to demonstrate their CSR commitments, such as Responsible Steel for steel and ASI for aluminum through its German subsidiary Gutcert.
