1. Using ISO 26000 in a structured way
ISO Workshop
Using ISO in a structured way
CSR Europe
London, 21. September 2012, at Ricoh Europe;
by Guido Gürtler

2. ISO 26000 Workshop Contents What is social responsibility (SR)?
ISO characteristics
Many other CSR approaches
Using ISO 26000
26k-user-guide and 26k-issue-tool
26k-select software
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

3. Behaviours make SR, not processes
ISO 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 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

4. 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 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

5. ISO 26000 Workshop ISO 26000 structure 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)
Guidance on integrating SR throughout an organization
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

6. 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 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

7. 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
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

8. Certifying to ISO 26000 is misusing the guidance standard
ISO Workshop
Why is ISO 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 is misusing the guidance standard
More at
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

9. ISO 26000 Workshop Substantive SR creative contributions to society
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
needs
organizations
individuals
preparedness
Laws
regulations
expectations
co-operations
…..
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

10. There is nothing wrong in not using ISO 26000, but…
ISO Workshop
There are many other codes in use
International norms of behaviour
UN Global Compact
National SR Laws and Regulations
UNDHR
ISO 26000
EFQM
DJSI
ILO Conventions
National SR standards
GRI
Labour standards
AA1000
Trade Associations’ Codes of Conduct
Environment standards
SA 8000 ……
There is nothing wrong in not using ISO 26000, but…
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

11. Each organization is different…
ISO Workshop
ISO 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 is unique
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

12. 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 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 = guidance”
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

13. ISO 26000 Workshop There are several ISO 26000 tools around:
Complex ones
Easy-to-handle ones….
Auto diagnostic tool (Alares Foundation):
CSR self assessment tool for schools
ISO 26k self assessment tool
( jAFOBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbi.eu%2Fdownload%2Fsub document%2FSelf asse ssment ISO issues.xls&ei=OKrQT8-FCsOU0QXJj83JCw&usg=AFQjCNHFeoBV6tBGCzqkOEdwU2XEnYuIcw&sig2=8PFckZ2A2 1bgbsC-le-PSA)
ISO 26000: Practical guide for SMEs Practical Guide SITE.pdf
ECOLOGIA Handbook for SMEs,
NORMAPME ISO user guide for European SMEs,
ISO Free toolkit ->
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

14. ISO 26000 Workshop 26k-issue-tool
Six questions per issue, with decreasing significance:
Is the core subject or its issues deemed relevant to your organization?
What leverage does your organization have on this issue?
What kind of activities can your organization undertake on this issue?
Are your possible activities in line with applicable law?
What impact will your possible activities have?
Which stakeholders would you involve in this issue?
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

15. ISO 26000 Workshop 26k-issue-tool, basic logic Rele-vance? Leverage?
Rele-vance?
Leverage?
Activi-ties?
Impact?
Law?
Stake-holder?
core subject A
YES
continue with issues of core subject A
issue A1 NO
continue with A2
issue A2
continue with A3
issue A3
issue A...
core subject B
continue with core subject C
issue B...
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

16. ISO 26000 Workshop 26k-issue-tool, Excel sheet, excerpt Question 1
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
Question 2
Question 3
CORE SUBJECTS and ISSUES
Is the core subject and its issues judged relevant for my organization?
What leverage does my organization have on this issue?
What kind of activities can my organization undertake on this issue?
6.2 Organizational Governance
Accountability, transparency, ethical behavior, respect for stakeholder interests, and respect for the rule of law
 answer
answer 
6.3 Human rights
Due diligence
Human rights risk situations
Avoidance of complicity
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

17. How to decide on the relevance of a core subject or an issue?
ISO 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 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

18. Examples of decisions on the relevance of a core subject or an issue?
ISO 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 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

19. ISO 26000 Workshop The 26k-select® software
This software portrays the 26k-issue-tool (excel sheet ), but offers a significant added value:
Interactive ISO application projects
Progressing in steps, not overlooking any item
Flexibility: Application projects may be designed for an entire enterprise, a business unit, a regional unit, or a just a department or a group
Storage of application projects; the issue analysis can be completed at any time; repeated analysis after a time
Inclusion of, and reference to, relevant existing documents
26k-select produces a WORD document on the results
Complete documentation of considerations for e.g. stakeholder dialogue.
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

20. ISO Workshop
The European Commission's final draft "A renewed EU strategy 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 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

21. ISO 26000 Workshop 26k-user-guide and 26k-issue-tool*, availability:
English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Czech, German
In the pipeline: Arabic, Lao
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
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

22. ISO 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 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

23. ISO 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 enterprise.”
Use the recommended logo
Other options …but always accompanied by information on facts
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

24. Thank you for your attention.
ISO Workshop
Thank you for your attention.
Some slides in annex …
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

25. ISO 26000 Workshop Guido Gürtler
NORMAPME expert and ICC observer to ISO 26000
ACE26000 (Advice, Creativity, Efficiency in using ISO 26000)
Farmerstr. 17
D Gröbenzell T
Castro 17
E Hío, Cangas T M
Skype: ace26k
on ISO 26000
micro-company
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

26. 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 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 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

27. Draft proposal, in line with ISO‘s recommendations
Annex
Draft proposal, in line with ISO‘s recommendations
ISO 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 as a reference document that provides guidance on social responsibility. We have used ISO 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 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

28. Annex
26k-user-guide
Tip 1: Purchase ISO 26000; look for the best price, e.g. at
Tip 2: Deny certification offers because certification is a misuse of ISO
Tip 3: If certification bodies approach you, ask them how they use ISO 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 must not to be used for regulatory purposes.
CSR Europe, ISO Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

29. Annex
26k-user-guide
Tip 6: Do not hesitate to warn business partners that ISO is not applicable for contractual use.
Tip 7: Several ISO issues may be covered by national law Consult e.g. your trade association because ISO guidance is basically not relevant in such cases.
Tip 8: Decide whether your entity is an “organization”* as defined in ISO
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 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

30. 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 k-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 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London

31. Annex
26k-user-guide
Tip 14: Compare ISO 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 in a complementary way Add a related remark to your ISO 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 Workshop 21. September 2012, Ricoh Europe, London