ISO 26000 : Corporate Social Responsibility

What is the ultimate goal of business? Business is one of the greatest tools that humanity has at its disposal for one major reason: it has the power to make a change on a massive level.

Yet this power comes with a large social responsibility. Businesses must strive to shape the world into something extraordinary.

The ISO 26000 sets the standard on corporate social responsibility.

Since 1947, the International Organization for Standardization has had the foresight to set a standard for businesses worldwide. This standard has evolved in recent years but none of its potency is lost.

Currently, the ISO 26000 Standard has elucidated the social responsibility of business in modern times. This quality management system is highly sought after by a multitude of businesses around the world.

Here are a few reasons why the ISO 26000 is a boon for the world of business.

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Together, the two additional bottom lines (community and environment), form the backbone of what is known as corporate social responsibility (CSR). 

Corporate social responsibility is an important factor in building and operating businesses in today’s marketplace for a variety of reasons.

From brand-perception, to consumer awareness, businesses that fail to do their part as an entity in the global community are quickly bogged down by negative reviews, and bad brand reputation.

Focus on Human Rights

No one wants to work for a company that does not respect their basic human rights. Someone may settle and simply put up with it because of a paycheck.

However, this does nothing but hurt the company. Your employees should want to work for you because of what your company stands for.

The ISO 26000 lays out many ways that a company can ensure that each employee’s human rights are valued.

This includes a focus on historically vulnerable groups of people.

You would be surprised at the increased level of success a company gains due to its basic respect for human rights. The company that puts its best foot forward in the realm of human rights is powerful.

One of the greatest things about the ISO 26000 is that it covers all the areas of this social responsibility.

The world today is much more aware of the global issues affecting far too many groups of people. Any business of merit can see the wrongs in the world and do its part to fix them.

The guidelines listed by the ISO 26000 ensure that any business that follows them will be exemplary.

Understanding CSR

In recent years, more and more companies have shifted their focus from a single bottom line to what’s known as a ‘triple bottom line’. What this boils down to is that instead of specifically focusing on profits and profits alone, organizations are also prioritizing their obligation to both the local and global communities in which they operate, as well as the environment.

Triple Bottom Line

The media loves to portray business people as greedy, cold, pragmatic, and slimy. This image has pervaded the minds of millions throughout the years.

If you were to tell the average person that you work in finance, they would almost pity you. After all, you helped caused every economic disaster in the last 30 years, right?

The focus on profit above all else has given the world of business an image problem. Your image plays a large part in selling or producing any kind of product. The wrong kind of image can lead a company down the path of ruin.

The way to defeat this to take a bold stance on social responsibility.

One of the most critical elements of the ISO 26000 is performance on social responsibility. This means that a company must do more than make empty speeches about change. Action has to occur.

The concept of the triple bottom line shows that you are taking concrete steps to create a business of worth. This additional layer to your bottom line adds social responsibility to the criterion of a great business.

Your community, both at home and globally, must also be thriving. The ISO 26000 will ensure that companies can fulfill their obligation to the world.

The national standard is quickly following the ISO 26000, and any company that ignores it lacks foresight.

The 26000 standard is the standard of successful and impactful businesses.

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Environmental Responsibility

Imagine your company has just had its most successful year. Profits are up and the champagne is flowing.

You look out the window as you bask in the glory of creating a great business. You see a bright light that gets brighter and brighter until it engulfs you and all of your employees. This is the result of the planet losing its ozone layer completely.

While that is an extreme example, it is nonetheless true. All the profits in the world mean nothing if the world is on the brink of environmental destruction.

Believe it or not, each company has an obligation to making sure that the environment does not get any worse.  ISO 26000 social responsibility contains a focus on how businesses can make a positive impact on the environment.

The largest aspect of this is pollution and how it can be avoided. With just a few steps taken, a large impact can occur.

People are very aware and dedicated to climate change. As such a business should also be aware of it and do its part to fight it.

Customers want to support a business with high management system standards. The ones outlined by the 26000 are more than sufficient enough to show that a given company is doing its part.

Environmental Responsibility

Imagine your company has just had its most successful year. Profits are up and the champagne is flowing.

You look out the window as you bask in the glory of creating a great business. You see a bright light that gets brighter and brighter until it engulfs you and all of your employees. This is the result of the planet losing its ozone layer completely.

While that is an extreme example, it is nonetheless true. All the profits in the world mean nothing if the world is on the brink of environmental destruction.

Believe it or not, each company has an obligation to making sure that the environment does not get any worse.  ISO 26000 social responsibility contains a focus on how businesses can make a positive impact on the environment.

The largest aspect of this is pollution and how it can be avoided. With just a few steps taken, a large impact can occur.

People are very aware and dedicated to climate change. As such a business should also be aware of it and do its part to fight it.

Customers want to support a business with high management system standards. The ones outlined by the 26000 are more than sufficient enough to show that a given company is doing its part.

Elevated Brand Perception

Everyone has one, as it is a vital part of how a business is perceived. Performance of social responsibility can only help a business. People will see that they care and thus they deserve support.

ISO 26000 was developed with the intent of elevating a company’s brand in the eyes of the world. This change in perception can lead to increased business and a more motivated workforce.

There is no downside to having an elevated brand perception. The brand of a given company should always be seen as innovative anyway.

The 26000 standard allows a company to raise their brand to the kind of levels that impress customers. Another plus is that the national standard will rise to meet it, and your company will be far ahead of the curve.

Customizing CSR And ISO 26000

The great thing about CSR and ISO 26000 is that they can both be completely customizable and unique to the cares and industry of the organization. For instance, ISO standards are designed to be used by any size of organization, from single-member LLC’s, all the way to multi-corporation conglomerates.

How ISO 26000 Helps With CSR?

ISO 26000 is focused on implementing processes and procedures that help companies and organizations assess their commitment to sustainability. The standards also help organizations address how efficient the CSR channels they currently have in place are.

Using the standards presented in ISO 26000 to craft processes and procedures will increase the efficiency of CSR efforts, while saving money, and benefiting the global community. This leads to an elevated brand perception, higher customer loyalty, and a stronger community presence.

The ISO 26000 Is the Wise Choice

Perception is king and it is vital to ensure that your company is seen as groundbreaking.

This means surpassing the national standard and following the one set by the ISO 26000. 

To create a company with vision and impact the ISO 26000 standard should be implemented. 

Reach out to the forward thinkers at Glacier Consulting, who are prepared to help elevate your business to the next level.

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