In today’s world, companies are paying growing attention to social responsibility, not only as an ethical duty but as a key factor in strengthening their image and attracting investors and customers. ISO 26000 provides a comprehensive guidance framework to help companies adopt social responsibility practices effectively.
ISO 26000: what is it?
ISO 26000 is an international guidance standard that provides guidelines on social responsibility, and it aims to help companies and organisations improve their social practices on a voluntary basis, to achieve sustainability and benefit communities. It is a guidance standard, not a requirements standard, and ISO states that it is not intended for certification, so there is no accredited ISO 26000 certificate.
What are the benefits of applying ISO 26000?
Applying the ISO 26000 guidance offers companies many benefits, including:
- A better public image: Applying the standard shows the company’s commitment to high standards of social responsibility, strengthening the trust of investors, customers and the community.
- Stronger ethical practices: The standard helps companies assess their practices and identify areas for improvement, helping to build an ethical culture within the company.
- More investment opportunities: Many investors prefer companies that apply ISO 26000 because of their commitment to sustainability and good governance.
- Better relationships with stakeholders: Applying the standard helps build strong relationships with stakeholders such as employees, local communities and customers.
- Encouraging innovation: The standard encourages innovation by seeking new solutions to social and environmental challenges.
A brief history of the standard (ISO 26000)
ISO 26000 was officially published on 1 November 2010. Since then, no new editions of the standard have been issued. However, the standard is reviewed regularly to ensure it keeps pace with the latest developments in social responsibility.
ISO standards undergo amendments and updates that ensure continual development for those who hold them. The responsible organisation therefore approves amendments and adds the date of the latest revision to the name or code of the standard, for example ISO 26000:2010 which means the latest revision of the standard was approved in 2010, and likewise ISO 14001:2015, which means the latest revision of the standard was approved in 2015.
What is the scope of the ISO 26000 standard?
The scope of ISO 26000 applies to any organisation that wants to be ready to demonstrate its commitment to social responsibility and implement effective practices in this area.
Who can apply ISO 26000?
Any type of organisation, regardless of its size, location or sector, can apply the ISO 26000 guidance.
Examples of the types of organisations that can apply the standard include:
- Companies:
- Large, medium-sized and small companies.
- Private, public and not-for-profit companies.
- Non-governmental organisations:
- Charities.
- International organisations.
- Local organisations.
- Public sector:
- Governments.
- Ministries.
- Public bodies.
- Educational institutions:
- Schools.
- Universities.
- Training institutions.
There are no specific requirements for an organisation to start applying ISO 26000.
How does an organisation apply ISO 26000?
Because ISO 26000 is a guidance standard that is not intended for certification, accredited certification bodies do not issue certificates against it. Organisations apply it voluntarily, through the following steps:
- Assess current practices: The company assesses its current practices to check they are in line with ISO 26000.
- Draw up an action plan: The company sets out an action plan to close any gaps between its current practices and the standard.
- Implement the action plan: The company carries out the action plan and records the results achieved.
- Review and communication: The company reviews its performance regularly and reports its social responsibility progress to stakeholders.
- Integration into management systems: The company builds these practices into certifiable management systems such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
Team Quality does not issue ISO 26000 certificates. We certify the management systems that cover key aspects of social responsibility: ISO 9001 for quality management and meeting customer requirements, ISO 14001 for the environmental side, ISO 45001 for workers’ health and safety, and ISO 37001 for anti-bribery.
Our goal at Team Quality is to help companies of all sizes and sectors achieve excellence in quality by offering a wide range of services, including:
- Certification: we audit and certify organisations against internationally recognised standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 29994.
- Training: We offer open training courses, available to all, across different areas of quality, such as internal auditing, risk analysis and problem solving.
- Assessment: We provide independent assessment services to measure how well companies comply with recognised quality standards.
Our accreditations
The company is accredited locally and internationally, and registered in Egypt, as follows:
Locally by
- Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC)
International accreditation and registration:
- Internationally: International Accreditation Service (IAS), an IAF MLA signatory
- Registered with: Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS)
- Our certificates can be verified on IAF CertSearch
For more details, contact us directly on 01014442207 or via WhatsApp
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