Organizations around the world, and their stakeholders, are becoming increasingly aware of the necessity and benefits of an actively socially responsible behavior. The aim of social responsibility is to contribute on the sustainable development.

An organization's performance in relation to the society in which it operates and to its impact on the environment has become a critical part of measuring its overall performance and its ability to continue operating effectively. This is, in part, a reflection of the growing recognition of the need for ensuring healthy ecosystems, social equity and good organizational governance. In the long run, all organizations’ activities depend on the health of the world’s ecosystems.

Organizations are subject to greater scrutiny by their various stakeholders, including customers or consumers, workers and their trade unions, members, the community, non-governmental organizations, students, financiers, donors, investors, companies and others.

ISO 26000:2010 is intended to be useful to all types of organizations in the private, public and non-profit sectors, whether large or small, and whether operating in developed or developing countries.

It is an individual organization's responsibility to identify what is relevant and significant for the organization to address, through its own considerations and through dialogue with stakeholders.

The above standard will be able to integrate, implement and promote a socially responsible behavior at all levels in the organization it will be signified on the company policies, practices and its sphere of influence.

The ISO 26000 will certainly identify and engage the stakeholders commitments and performance on communicating the other information related to the social responsibility.

In applying ISO 26000:2010, it is advisable that an organization take into consideration societal, environmental, legal, cultural, political and organizational diversity, as well as differences in economic conditions, while being consistent with international norms of behavior.

Adapted from the ISO standard: ISO 26000:2010

Specifically, ISO 26000:2010 Social Responsibility has the following core concepts:

• Organizational Governance
• Human Rights
• Labor Practices
• The Environment
• Fair Operating Practices
• Consumer Issues
• Community Involvement and Development

The ISO 26000:2010 principles are:

• Accountability
• Transparency
• Ethical Behavior
• Respect for Stakeholders Interest
• Respect for the rule of law
• Respect for international norms of behaviors
• Respect for human rights