IQNET SR 10
The publication of the ISO 26000 International Standard Guidance on Social Responsibility has a definite impact on the society and, in particular, in the way in which organisations relate to their stakeholders. ISO 26000 is a valuable guide that details the basic principles on which all organisations’ social responsibility must be grounded.
However, this standard does not contain provisions for determining the minimum requirements for the practical implementation of the social responsibility principles and cannot be certified by organisations that are willing to demonstrate compliance with such principles. Organisations need models to support them integrating the recommendations, guidelines and principles of ISO 26000 in their daily business.
SR 10 is an international specification, developed by IQNET Association and its members, based on the RS 10 specification issued by AENOR, Spain. It is aimed to integrate social responsibility management into organisations’ business strategy and to communicate the achievements obtained through certification.
The specification is aimed to assist any organisation in meeting its expectations, large ones and SMEs, public and private, and from all sectors; both for companies that are starting to implement their corporate social responsibility strategy, and for those who are already there and now need to integrate the actions they have been working on into their daily operations. It is an added-value solution for organisations that wish to move forward from generating employment and wealth to also developing sustainably, from customer-focused to focus on their stakeholders, and from merely drafting and executing social responsibility plans that stand alone from the rest of their business policies and strategies towards integrating social responsibility into their global strategy.
In addition to those mentioned above, other characteristics that contribute to the success of SR 10 are:
It is based on the principles and directives detailed in the international recommendations made by the ILO, UN, EU and on the general principles of social responsibility, which integrates financial-economic management and good governance issues, along with environmental and social matters;
Includes the principles, directives and recommendations established in the International Standard ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility*;
It is based on the Deming Cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act) of continuous improvement, so that it can be complemented and integrated with other management systems, such as quality management systems (ISO 9001), environmental management systems (ISO 14001), occupational health and safety (ISO 45001), social accountability management systems (SA8000), to name a few;
It is complementary to other initiatives focused on concrete stakeholders such as GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit), etc.
* Note: Although ISO 26000 was used as a basis for the establishment of this specification, its implementation and certification cannot be used by an organisation to claim conformity to ISO 26000.
By implementing an SR 10 Social Responsibility Management System, your organisation will be positioned as socially responsible, standing out from the competition and positively strengthening your image with all stakeholders.
Leadership and Business Management Benefits
• Positions the organisation as socially responsible
• Assists in effectively embedding ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance Factors)
in own activities
• Supports own organizational contriubtion to the UN SDG (Sustainable Development Goals)
• Improves communication and understanding of expectations and needs of all stakeholders
• Promotes a more balanced decision-making process that involves all stakeholders
• Allows integration with management systems based on other standards (ISO 9001,
ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 37001, SA8000, etc.) and excellence models (EFQM, etc.)
• Improves the organisation’s risk management practices
• Increases employees’ loyalty, involvement, participation and morale
• Improves workers’ health and safety
• Has a positive impact on the capacity to hire, motivate and retain employees
• Generates innovation.
Social and Environmental Benefits
• Reduces negative impacts on society and the environment
• Favors the promotion and start-up of SR initiatives and programs
• Stimulates the implementation of actions and initiatives that represent a positive impact
on ecosystems and biodiversity.
Financial and Commercial Benefits
• Improves competitiveness and contributes to accessing funding and relations with investors
and partners
• Supports an organisation to positively differentiate from the competition
• Strengthens the organisation’s image with clients, consumers, shareholders, investors,
community
• Increases savings associated with increased productivity and resource efficiency, decreased
energy and water consumption, reduced wastes and the recovery of valuable by-products
• Prevents or reduces potential conflicts with consumers on products and services.