ISO 26000-2010 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 26000:2010 — Guidance on social responsibility. An international guidance document that helps organizations of all types and sizes understand and implement socially responsible behaviour, covering concepts, principles, core subjects, stakeholder engagement, integration and communication of social responsibility policies and practices.

Abstract

ISO 26000:2010 provides guidance (not requirements) to organizations seeking to operate in a socially responsible way. It clarifies terms and concepts, sets out seven principles of social responsibility, describes seven core subjects and associated issues, and offers practical advice on integrating social responsibility throughout an organization and its sphere of influence. The standard is intended to support sustainable development and to complement — not replace — other instruments and initiatives.

General information

• Status: Published / International Standard (confirmed on review cycles).
• Publication date: 2010-11 (November 2010; originally published in 2010).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 03.100.02 (Governance and ethics / social responsibility).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (ISO 26000:2010).
• Number of pages: 106 pages (official published text length).

Key bibliographic facts above are recorded in the ISO bibliographic entry and by national standards bodies that distribute the text.

Scope

ISO 26000 gives guidance on social responsibility for all types of organizations, irrespective of their size, activity or location. Its scope covers understanding social responsibility, the principles and practices that support it, guidance on the seven core subjects and issues of social responsibility, and advice on how to identify and engage stakeholders and communicate commitments and performance. It is explicitly a guidance document and is not intended to be used for certification, regulatory or contractual purposes.

Key topics and requirements

• Fundamental concepts and definitions of social responsibility (what social responsibility means in organizational context).
• Seven principles of social responsibility: accountability, transparency, ethical behaviour, respect for stakeholder interests, respect for the rule of law, respect for international norms of behaviour, and respect for human rights.
• Seven core subjects and their issues: organizational governance; human rights; labour practices; the environment; fair operating practices; consumer issues; and community involvement and development.
• Guidance on recognizing social responsibility, identifying relevance and impact, and prioritizing issues for action.
• Stakeholder identification and engagement — approaches to mapping, dialogue and incorporating stakeholder input.
• Integrating social responsibility throughout an organization, aligning policy and practices with relevant contexts (legal, cultural, environmental, economic) and promoting continuous improvement.
• Communication and reporting guidance (including use of the ISO 26000 Communication Protocol and related implementation support materials).
• Clarification that ISO 26000 provides guidance (not requirements) and therefore is not a management-system standard and is not intended for certification.

Typical use and users

ISO 26000 is used as a strategic reference and implementation guide by: corporate sustainability and CSR teams; public sector organizations and agencies; small and medium enterprises seeking structured guidance; non-governmental organizations and civil society groups; supply‑chain partners integrating social responsibility expectations; professional advisors and auditors using it as a reference (not for certification); and policy-makers incorporating voluntary guidance into public policy. It is also used for internal training, stakeholder dialogue frameworks and linking organisational action to broader agendas such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Related standards

ISO 26000 is commonly referenced alongside other management and governance standards and frameworks such as ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), ISO 45001 (occupational health & safety), governance guidance standards (for example ISO 37000), reporting and disclosure frameworks (e.g., Global Reporting Initiative) and international instruments such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ISO 26000 is intended to complement — not replace — these instruments.

Keywords

social responsibility; CSR; guidance; sustainability; stakeholder engagement; governance; human rights; labour practices; environment; fair operating practices; consumer issues; community involvement; ISO 26000; non-certifiable standard.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 26000:2010 is an international guidance standard titled "Guidance on social responsibility" that helps organizations understand and implement socially responsible behaviour. It is a guidance document, not a certifiable management-system standard.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers concepts and principles of social responsibility, seven core subjects (organizational governance; human rights; labour practices; the environment; fair operating practices; consumer issues; community involvement and development), stakeholder engagement, integration and communication of social responsibility policies and actions.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Organizations of any size or sector — private, public and non-profit — use ISO 26000 as a reference for CSR strategy, policy development, stakeholder engagement, training and alignment with sustainable development goals. It is also used by consultants, advisors and policy-makers.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The published edition is ISO 26000:2010 (Edition 1). The standard has been subject to ISO's periodic review process and has been confirmed through review cycles; it remains the authoritative guidance text from ISO. ISO maintains review cycles for standards and records confirmation statuses.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: ISO 26000 is a standalone guidance standard focused on social responsibility; it is frequently used in conjunction with other ISO management and governance standards but is not part of a sequential numbered series of management system standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Social responsibility, CSR, sustainability, stakeholder engagement, governance, human rights, labour practices, environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, community involvement.