Introduction

Social responsibility is a holistic approach to contribute to sustainable development.

Social responsibility is “the responsibility of an organization for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment, through transparent and ethical behaviour”. It can be also understood as a tool for innovation and competitiveness now and for future generations.

Organizations in the food chain around the world, and their stakeholders, are becoming increasingly aware of the need for and benefits of socially responsible behaviour in the whole value chain of their operations. Organizations in the food chain willing to implement social responsibility can benefit from using this document in conjunction with ISO 26000:2010.

This document provides guidance on the application of ISO 26000:2010 specifically for organizations in the food chain and is intended to be useful to all types of organizations in the food chain, whether large or small, and whether operating in developed or developing countries. Food chain organizations may use this document in association with other relevant organisations and stakeholders.

Implementation of social responsibility, besides being a source of innovation and attractiveness for the organization, brings many benefits: improved dialogue with stakeholders, improved social cohesion, differentiation from the competition, better reputation, improved economic and industrial performance, a better view of investors, donors, sponsors, etc. and, in the end, productivity gains.

Social responsibility is a powerful tool that helps organizations move from good intentions to good practices linked to the United Nations sustainability framework. This document is intended to support organizations in the food chain that are committed to contribute to the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. SDG 2 specifically promotes sustainable agriculture, while SDG 12 focuses on sustainable consumption and production patterns (see Annex A and Annex C).

Definition and summary of the principles of social responsibility according to ISO 26000:2010

ISO 26000:2010 defines social responsibility as:

“the responsibility of an organization for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment, through transparent and ethical behaviour that:

— contributes to sustainable development, including health and the welfare of society;
— takes into account the expectations of stakeholders;
— is in compliance with applicable law and consistent with international norms of behaviour; and
— is integrated throughout the organization and practised in its relationships”.

ISO 26000:2010 describes the two fundamental practices of social responsibility, which are:

— the recognition by an organization of its social responsibility; and
— the identification of, and engagement with, stakeholders.

As with the principles described in ISO 26000:2010, Clause 4, these practices should be kept in mind when addressing the core subjects of social responsibility described in ISO 26000:2010, Clause 6.

Organizations should base their behaviour on standards, guidelines or rules of conduct that are in accordance with principles of right or good conduct in the context of specific situations, even when these situations are challenging. The seven principles of social responsibility addressed by ISO 26000:2010 are as follows.

— Accountability: an organization should be accountable for its impacts on society, the economy and the environment.
— Transparency: openness about decisions and activities that affect society, the economy and the environment, and willingness to communicate these in a clear, accurate, timely, honest and complete manner.
— Ethical behaviour: an organization should behave ethically, basing its behaviour on the values of honesty, equity and integrity and showing concern for people, animals and the environment and a commitment to address the impact of its activities and decisions on stakeholders' interests.
— Respect for stakeholder interests: an organization should respect and consider and respond to the specific interests of other individuals or groups that comprise the organization’s stakeholders.
— Respect for the rule of law: to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, an organization should take steps to be aware of applicable laws and regulations, to inform those within the organization of their obligation to observe and to implement those measures.
— Respect for international norms of behaviour: an organization should respect international norms of behaviour, while adhering to the principle of respect for the rule of law and not become complicit in any negligence, especially in situations or countries where the law or its implementation does not provide for adequate environmental or social safeguards.
— Respect for human rights: an organization should respect human rights and recognize both their importance and their universality, promote them, take steps to respect them and avoid passively accepting or actively participating in the infringement of rights.

PD ISO/TS 26030:2019

Social responsibility and sustainable development. Guidance on using ISO 26000:2010 in the food chain

Current

Published:

31 Jan 2020