Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000,
Global Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility

Designed by ECOLOGIA
for
Small and Medium Sized Businesses

Version Two
May 2011

NoteThis handbook has been prepared by ECOLOGIA as an independent project, to encourage
adoption and implementation of ISO 26000. We have based it on the ISO 26000 International
Standard, Guidance on Social Responsibility, and on all the information available to us as Expert
Delegates. ECOLOGIA participated in the ISO 26000 Working Group on Social Responsibility(WGSR) for five years, from its first plenary session in 2005 to the final official vote in
September 2010. That vote, by National Standards Body participating members, was 93% infavor of adoption of the Final Draft as an ISO International Standard. Its official launch date was
November 1, 2010.
This handbook is not in any way intended to replace the entire ISO 26000 document. For
more information about ISO and ISO 26000, see http://www.iso.org/sr
For more information about ECOLOGIA’s work in the process of creating this standard,
see http://www.ecologia.org/isosr/index.html
To purchase the complete official ISO 26000 document (106 pages), you can contact any
country’s National Standards Body. ISO 26000 is available in many languages.

Randy Kritkausky and Carolyn Schmidt, Expert Delegates to ISO 26000 WGSR
Xiaoxue Weng, China CSR Program Specialist
ECOLOGIA
Tel. +1-802-623-8075
PO Box 268, Middlebury Vermont 05753 USA
E-mail: ecologia@ecologia.org Website: www.ecologia.org
Copyright © 2010, 2011 ECOLOGIA
Use and Licensing Information
ECOLOGIA has obtained a license for this Handbook, through Creative Commons(www.creativecommons.org). This material is copyrighted by ECOLOGIA.
You are free to share – to copy, distribute and transmit this Handbook– under the following
conditions:
Attribution: you must attribute this Handbook to ECOLOGIA, including our name and website
address. (www.ecologia.org)
Non-Commercial: you may not use this work for commercial purposes. That is, you may notsell it, nor sell your services to work with implementers using it.
No Derivatives – You may not alter, transform or build upon this Handbook.
Waiver – Any of these conditions can be waived (set aside) if you get permission fromECOLOGIA. Please contact us with any requests.

Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000, Version Two, by ECOLOGIA
is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Contents
Preface…...……………………………………………………………………………………….…3
Part I: Introduction …………………………...………………………………………………….…3
What is ISO 26000 and who is it for?.................................................................................. .3
What opportunities does ISO 26000 provide for its implementers?......................................4
How does ISO 26000 encourage sustainable development? .…….……………………..…… 4
Key Elements of ISO 26000………………..…………………………………………........5
Part II: Implementation Workbook …..…………………………………………………………….7
1. Your Current Picture…………... ………………………………………………………. 9
2. Evaluation for Each of the Seven Core Subjects…………………………………….… 10
Table 1 “Importance of core subjects for our business…………..……………...…….10
Table 2 “CSR programs and activities already established in our business”...….…….11
3. Engaging Your Stakeholders ……………………………..……………………………..13
Table 3 “Stakeholder and core subject worksheet”………………..……………...…..15
4. Plans for Improvement…………………………………………………………………..19
5. Public Reporting………..………………………………………………………………..21
6. How to Claim Credit for Your Use of ISO 26000……………………….…………...23

Part III: The Seven Core Subjects: Definitions, Principles and Action Suggestions…………….27
Organizational governance.…...…..…………………………………………….………..………27
Human rights……...…………………..….…………………………………………….…………27
Labor practices………………………………..………...……………………………………...…...………29
Environment………………………………..……...……………….…………….……..…………30
Fair operating practices….………….….……………………………………………..………….31
Consumer issues……….…………….……………………….……………..………….…....…….31
Community involvement and development………..………………..……………….………..…....32

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

2

Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

PREFACEECOLOGIA’s handbook for implementers of ISO 26000 is designed for use by small andmedium sized businesses. By using this international standard’s approach to Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR), businesses can improve their impact on their communities and increase
their competitiveness. ISO 26000 carries within it the high hopes and expectations of its creatorsand of future generations who depend on us to pass on the natural, social and economic resourcesthat we have inherited or created.

PART I: INTRODUCTIONI

SO 26000 is a voluntary guidance standard on social responsibility designed for use by anyorganization. It can be used by business leaders to plan and implement actions to improvetheir sustainability – economically, socially, and environmentally. This handbook aims to deepen
businesses’ understanding of ISO 26000, and to assist them in adopting the standard into theircore business decisions. This handbook is divided into three parts:

1. Introduction:
information on key
elements of ISO 26000

2. Implementation
workbook

3. Summary of core
subjects:
definitions, principles &action suggestions

What is ISO 26000, and who is it for?
or many successful businesspeople – and perhaps for you - being socially responsible is apart of who they are and why they are in business: to provide useful products and services, toprovide jobs and development opportunities for their communities, and to gain satisfaction
through meaningful work. In many countries, these “socially responsible entrepreneurs” havebeen quietly making a difference by acting on their values and principles, and inspiring others.
They have the spirit of social responsibility already.

F

However, in many sectors and many parts of the world, people and businesses still lack the spirit
or understanding of being responsible. They may lack the knowledge or incentive to realize that
their actions are important for the well-being of other people and the environment. ISO 26000 is
a response to the urgent need for all people, from all parts of the world, to have a positive impact
on those around them, through the way they do business and live their lives.

I

SO 26000 provides broad guidance, but does not offer specific instructions or require specificoutcomes. Businesses that implement ISO 26000 have opportunities to identify and act on
their own priorities, and to build stronger business models in the spirit of “continuous
improvement.” Implementers of ISO 26000 will develop their unique corporate social
responsibility programs and become models for others.
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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000
ISO 26000 was created by a diverse group of experts, representing many different countries,
1
stakeholder groups , and points of view. Work began in 2005 and was completed in 2010.
Creation of the standard was organized by the International Standardization Organization, ISO,
based in Geneva Switzerland. Since 1947 ISO has developed over 17,000 standards to encourageworld trade and quality production. Previous well-known ISO standards include ISO 9000
(quality control) and ISO 14000 (environmental management systems). Unlike ISO 9000 and
14000, however, ISO 26000 is a voluntary guidance standard and is not intended for
certification.

What opportunities does ISO 26000 provide for its implementers?
ECOLOGIA has prepared this handbook especially for small and medium sized businesses.
Using this handbook will assist you in identifying ways that you can strengthen the local,
regional, or global communities upon which you depend. You can thereby create stronger andmore enduring partnerships with your investors, customers, workers, suppliers, and community
members. This handbook will assist you in reporting on your business’s strengths andcontributions. It can also alert you to problem areas or blind spots previously neglected in yourmanagement and planning. By encouraging communications with stakeholders, ISO 26000 will
help you to gather useful information beyond the limits of your current resources.
For example,
 You may identify new products, services or
By adopting ISO 26000 into your manufacturing processes;
 You may generate more effective promotion andcore business model, you canmarketing plans, focusing on the value-added social
 identify paths to innovation
responsibility components of your business; reduce long-term risks
 By reporting on your current situation in each of the core
 increase yoursubject areas, you can earn trust and establish yourself as acompetitivenessbusiness which is committed to social responsibility.

How does ISO 26000 encourage sustainable development?
development is growth and change that maintains
Sustainable
and improves the natural environment, human resources,
and society upon which we depend. Businesses that identify,
It is designed to be
maintain, and improve their natural and human resources are
flexible, and to provide
highly competitive. They are more able to cope withleaders with guidelines
challenges in the marketplace. They can anticipate and reduceand choices.
threats caused by environmental changes or natural disasters,
and can better adapt to significant social changes. No businesscan predict the future perfectly; but smart businesses can plan for a future in which significant
social and environmental changes occur. Businesses that contribute to a more sustainable society
are more likely to be valued and supported by consumers, supply chains, and policy makers. ISO
26000 provides information and decision-making tools for businesses to identify ways they can
improve their impacts on the people and places they work and live in, and thereby become morevaluable and valued members of society.
1

The Working Group on Social Responsibility (WGSR) that created ISO 26000 included six stakeholder groups:
industry, government, labor, NGO, consumer, and SSRO (service, support, research and others).

4

Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Key Elements of ISO 26000:
Stakeholders, Core Subjects and Reporting
1) Stakeholders are those people and groups that are affected by the actions of your business.
These can include workers, suppliers, community residents, consumers, and investors.
Communicating with them is one of the best ways a business can find out where it is doing agood job, and where it could improve.

2) Core Subjects
ISO 26000 identifies seven core subjects that socially responsible businesses should address.
Implementers of ISO 26000 should evaluate their actions in each of the core subjects, to identify
what they are doing in their current practices, and to set priorities for improvements.

Organizational
Governance

Human Rights

Labor Practices

Environment

Fair Operating
Practices

ConsumerIssuesCommunity
Involvement &Development

Organizational governance – practicing accountability and transparency at all levels ofyour organization; using leadership to create an organizational culture which uses corevalues of social responsibility when making business decisions

Human rights – treating all individuals with respect; making special efforts to help
people from vulnerable groups

Labor practices – providing just, safe and healthy conditions for workers; engaging in
two-way discussions to address workers’ concernsEnvironment– identifying and improving environmental impacts of your operations,
including resource use and waste disposal

Fair operating practices – respecting the law; practicing accountability and fairness inyour dealings with other businesses, including your suppliersConsumer issues – providing healthy and safe products, giving accurate information, andpromoting sustainable consumptionCommunity involvement and development – getting involved in the betterment of thelocal communities that your organization operates in; being a good neighbor

See Part III: The Seven Core Subjects (pages 27-33) for more explanations, and for action
suggestions.
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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

3) Reporting
This is a valuable tool for engaging stakeholders and for promoting your achievements.
Implementers of ISO 26000 should report on activities and decisions in as many of the sevencore subjects as they can. If they do not address a core subject, they need to: (1) explain why
they omitted it, and (2) include it in a plan for consideration in the future. On page 21,
ECOLOGIA explains how to report on your CSR efforts.

Third-party involvement or “attestations” can strengthen your reports and make your social
responsibility claims more credible to reviewers and to the public.
While ISO 26000 is not designed for certification, it provides a framework for implementers touse various third party verification mechanisms, including formal certification to other standards,
to enhance the credibility of particular claims made within the ISO 26000 reporting framework.
For example, quality claims could be backed up by ISO 9000 certification; food safety claims byregional or national organic certification.
● ● ●A note about the terms “CSR” and “SR”:
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the traditional way to refer to the role of a business incontributing positively to the larger community in which it operates. ISO 26000 uses the term“Social Responsibility” (SR) to refer to this concept, to show that its guidance can be used by
all kinds of organizations. However, since this handbook is designed especially for the needsof small and medium size businesses, we have used “CSR” – the more familiar term –throughout.
● ● ●

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

PART II:
IMPLEMENTATION WORKBOOKFOR ISO 26000

This workbook should be completed by your business’s management team, working as a group. It will not
be effective if it is filled out by one individual, because the success of ISO 26000 depends on team efforts.

There are six stages in the process:Your Current
PictureEvaluation
for the Seven
Core Subjects

Engaging Your
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

Claiming
Credit7

Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

1. YourCurrent
PictureEvaluation
for the Seven
Core Subjects

Engaging Your
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

Claiming
Credit

1. Your Current PictureFirst, describe your business.
a) What does it do, what does it produce and sell, who does it employ, and where is it located?

b) Who are your key business partners – suppliers, customers, etc?

Second, explore what social responsibility means to you.
a) What does a “good company” look like in your eyes?
What should it pursue in addition to generating profit? What are its principles and actions?

b) Does your business strive to meet that ideal?
If yes, how do you do that specifically?
If not, what obstacles prevent you from pursuing that
ideal?

Note: This may include both obvious andnot-so obvious efforts. For example, you may
have an environmental management office, orassign environmental management tasks toan employee. This is an obvious effort. For
an example of a not-so obvious effort, you
may consistently promote employment ofminorities or vulnerable populations, andtolerance in the workplace for them by all
employees, but you may not have a humanrights office or a single individual responsible
for this principle.

Your Ideal and ISO 26000: What’s the Connection?

Your answers on this page may indicate that your business already practices social responsibility, perhaps
without ever giving it this name. In fact, CSR in practice often grows out of human instincts to be fair andhelpful to neighbors. ISO 26000 provides a framework for you to take the next steps: to think moredeeply and to act more thoroughly. ISO 26000 will help you to organize your CSR efforts systematically,evaluate your progress and effectively tell others about your achievements. Therefore, ISO 26000 is
supportive of and complementary to your efforts to become a “good business” in the world.

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
Picture2. Evaluation
for the Seven
Core Subjects

Engaging Your
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

Claiming
Credit

1. Evaluation for Each of the Seven Core Subjects
In this section, you will evaluate your situation for each of the ISO
26000 seven core subjects. Again, for some core subjects, you will
identify what you are already doing. For the other core subjects, you
can examine suggestions for future actions.

Take the time to learn more
about the seven core subjects;
see pages 27-33 for more
information on each of the sevencore subjects.

1)Fill in Table 1, “Importance of Core Subjects for Our Business.”
How important is each of the seven core subjects to your business and its social responsibility?
Check the core subject areas in which you are already taking actions.
Table 1 “Importance of Core Subjects for Our Business”

Core Subject

ImportantNot very
important

Already in
ActionOrganizational governance
Practicing accountability and transparency at all levels;
leadership promotes responsibility
Human rights
Treating all individuals with respect; making efforts to help
members of vulnerable groups
Labor practices
Providing just, safe and favorable conditions to workers
Environment
Identifying and improving environmental impacts of youroperations, including resource use and waste disposal
Fair operating practices
Respecting the law; treating all partners fairly, including
your suppliers
Consumer issues
Providing healthy and safe products; giving accurate
information on their use
Community involvement and development
Being involved as a good neighbor in your local community

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
Picture2. Evaluation
for the Seven
Core Subjects

Engaging Your
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

Claiming
CreditFilling out Table 1 should have helped your entire management team to be more comfortablewith the importance of the seven core subjects for your business. If you have not achieved aconsensus on these topics, take time to discuss this further, before moving on to Table 2.
2) Next, in Table 2, write what you are already doing for each of the ISO 26000 core subjects.
Table 2

“CSR Programs and Activities Already Established in Our Business”

Core Subject

CSR programs and activities already established
IMPORTANT: These can be obvious or not-so obvious

Organizational
Governance

Human rights

Labor practices

Environment

Fair operating practices

Consumer issues

Community involvementand development

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
Picture2. Evaluation
for the Seven
Core Subjects

Engaging Your
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

Claiming
Credit3) With your management team, read “ISO 26000 - The Seven Core Subjects for Social
Responsibility” (Part III of this handbook, on pages 27-33). Pay particular attention to the action
suggestions listed under each subject.
Circle action suggestions that you are already doing. ISO 26000 has now helped you to
identify socially responsible actions that you should take credit for. Check to be sure thatyou have listed these in Table 2 on page 11, and add in to Table 2 any actions that you
had missed.



Identify and highlight suggestions that you do not practice at this time, but might want toinclude in plans for the future. Be realistic about what you can accomplish with yourresources.



Leave unmarked, or cross out, any action suggestions which do not apply to you or which
you feel you cannot implement.

4) Begin outlining your internal confidential working documents about your CSR actions.
Your first step is to conduct a “gap analysis”. Use the information in Table 1, “Importance ofCore Subjects for Our Business,” and Table 2, “CSR Programs and Activities AlreadyEstablished in Our Business”.


Identify core subject areas where you can address
missed opportunities to improve your business
model
Identify core subject areas where you are exposed
to risks that have not been properly planned for.
Refer back to Table 1 (page 10). Using your gap
analysis, identify and highlight any core subjects
where you have noticed room for improvement.

A gap analysis focuses on the“gap”, or distance, between what
you are presently doing and what
you want or need to do.

After you have identified places where you have these gaps, you can decide how and when toaddress them.
This process may also help you to anticipate how your stakeholders and the public will engage
with you. That is why this internal assessment step comes before the following sections, on
stakeholder engagement, plans for improvement, and public reporting.

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation
for the Seven
Core Subjects

3. Engaging
Your
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

Claiming
Credit3. Engaging Your Stakeholders“Engaging your stakeholders” – having two-way discussions with them about how you andthey can best work together – helps you to understand how others see you, and is a logical next
step after your internal evaluation.

Stakeholders are people orgroups who are affected by theactions of your business. Often
they also have the ability toaffect you. This is why ISO
26000 emphasizes stakeholder
involvement.

You may find that stakeholder engagement is new, challenging, even intimidating. However,stakeholder engagement can bring great rewards to your business. To catch a glimpse of suchrewards, see “Real Life Examples” on the next page.
To benefit fully from this process, you should proceed with this phase of ISO 26000 in amanner that is comfortable for your management team.
Do not attempt to engage all stakeholders on all issues at the beginning
Prioritize core subjects and related stakeholders
Focus on areas where you and your stakeholders can most realistically move forward
together within the limits of your and their resources.

The next several pages will walk you through the process of stakeholder engagement.

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation
for the Seven
Core Subjects

3. Engaging
Your
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

Claiming
CreditReal Life Examples
How Stakeholder Engagement Can Help Your Business
The following are real life examples from ECOLOGIA’s work over the years. These
examples show specific ways that stakeholder input helped business management tobuild value for their companies, and to avoid troubling situations and bad publicity.


In Russia, a quality management team reduced defective product rejections, and thereby
reduced manufacturing inputs and waste disposal costs significantly, after consultingwith factory workers.

In the United States, workers informed owners about needlessly unsafe working
conditions that managers had been tolerating, and which could have resulted in serious
and costly injuries; the owners fixed the problems.



In Europe, customers had good ideas for new or substitute manufacturing inputs orprocesses that could reduce costs and increase the value of the products, but before their“stakeholder engagement”, the customers had no way to get their ideas to the business
managers.

In the United States, community members, other businesses, and officials got together tofind ways to partner to reduce transport costs.



In Russia, community residents were worried about water pollution from a local
business. The business executives had not really known how concerned the residents
were, until meeting with them. Once they started talking directly with the businessexecutives, the community residents said they wanted to work together with the business,
and with local officials, to reduce the pollution. They wanted to ensure that the businessstayed economically healthy, providing jobs. The residents did not want the business tospend money on fines that wouldn’t solve the problems.

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation
for the Seven
Core Subjects

3. Engaging
Your
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

Claiming
Credit1) First, identify your business’s stakeholders – the people or groups who are affected by theactions of your business. Write their names in the appropriate boxes of Table 3. You and yourmanagement team should discuss what core subject(s) each group of your stakeholders is mostinvolved with, in their relationships with your business. For each group you identify, determine
whether you know of any unmet needs they have that you might be able to meet.
Table 3 “Stakeholder and Core Subject Worksheet”
Core
Subjects

Stakeholders

Organizational
governance

Human rights

Labor
practices

Environment

Fair operating
practices

ConsumerissuesCommunity
involvement&
development

Employees/
Workers

Purchasers
Clients
Customers
Consumers

Owners/Investors

Government
officials

Local /
regional
community
residents
Suppliers/
contractors(supply
chain)

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation
for the Seven
Core Subjects

3. Engaging
Your
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

Claiming
Credit2) Start with one or two topics and stakeholder groups, find a comfortable meeting place for
an informal discussion, and get feedback on your current situation. The goal here is to establish
trust and start a dialogue. Engage your stakeholders to work with you to build consensus aroundyour successful corporate social responsibility efforts, and to suggest ways to improve. Explain
your viewpoints, and listen to theirs. NOTE: Especially if this is your first time engaging
stakeholders, see “How to Begin the Process” (pages 17-18).

3) During your meetings with stakeholders, and in your internal discussion afterwards, use
the information you obtain to identify opportunities for new products, customers, programs and/or community
involvement, and identify areas where you may be vulnerable (at risk) due to stakeholder dissatisfaction,or to the impact of accidents, natural disasters or other problems on your business.
By engaging a larger variety of stakeholders, you increase your chances of understanding
their needs and thus increasing your competitiveness.
4) Use stakeholders’ input to re-examine subject areas that you may have ignored or whose
importance you may have underestimated in your internal review and gap analysis. Refer
back to Table 1 “Importance of Core Subjects for Our Business” (page 10), Table 2 “CSR
Programs and Activities Already Established in Our Business” (page 11) and Table 3“Stakeholder and Core Subject Worksheet” (page 15), and make changes as needed.
5) Begin outlining a plan for improvement (see Section 4 on page 19).
6) Show that you are a responsive partner, and establish good working relationships:
 Communicate back to the stakeholders with whom you met; let them know how you
have used some of their ideas in your plans for improvement; In your public reporting (see Section 5 on page 21), include an explanation of the roleof stakeholder engagement. This is an important part of using ISO 26000 to bringabout continuous improvement.

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation
for the Seven
Core Subjects

3. Engaging
Your
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

Claiming
CreditEngaging Your Stakeholders: How to Begin the Process
Engaging stakeholders should be one of the most valuable activities associated with ISO 26000.
It may also be one of the most challenging activities if you do not prepare a good plan. Thesesuggestions are intended to make stakeholder involvement productive and collaborative.

1) Establish rules for a stakeholder engagement meeting
Distribute the rules in written form and review them at the start of the meeting. Make sure thatyour management team understands the rules before the meeting; they must model collaborative
behavior. Suggestions: If you identify a problem, suggest a solution.
 Listen respectfully.
 Avoid angry statements.
 Engage other speakers by confirming where you are in agreement. This is a great way to
begin speaking: “I agree that…” After identifying areas of agreement, you can explain
if and where you disagree.
 Try to see the perspective of those with whom you disagree. Show that you understandby restating or confirming what you think the speaker said even if you disagree.
2) Start within your company for the first step
Make your first stakeholder involvement step an internal meeting within your company. Involvea stakeholder group and potential topic of discussion that will allow you, your management
team, and the stakeholders to walk into the room expecting that it will be a win-win situation.
Avoid a highly controversial topic.
For example, meet with employees to discuss how to reduce waste in production, reduce waste
disposal costs, save expenses, and make your company more competitive. This topic should not
introduce conflict. When everyone leaves the meeting, all participants should feel that theysolved a problem by working together and that the company is stronger. (Be sure to tellstakeholders that their contributions are valuable, if and when they are valuable.)17

Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation
for the Seven
Core Subjects

3. Engaging
Your
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

Claiming
CreditEngaging Your Stakeholders: How to Begin the Process, continued
3) Start with the already known
Make your first public stakeholder meeting with community members or customers anannouncement of an action that you are prepared to take in response to a concern that you
already know they have. In this way, you will signal your willingness to take action.
Make the announcement as a suggestion, not as a final decision. Ask for their feedback andsuggestions in making your activity more effective.
Explain that your company wants to be socially responsible in a way that helps customers andthe community, and that it is most likely that the company can act in the future when both the
public and company benefit. Ask participants to suggest other ways that you can work
together. Do not immediately accept or reject any suggestion. Respectfully gather input for
future discussions and take time to reflect before a follow-up meeting.

4) Go to the next stage when you are readyAs your company’s management team becomes comfortable with the stakeholder
engagement process, be prepared to address issues that may involve serious differences andconflicting interests. These may involve pollution concerns of the community, labor
conditions, or quality or safety concerns of suppliers and customers. Such concerns probably
cannot be resolved in one stakeholder meeting. You may need to gather information, and thenhave your staff research technology and costs associated with solutions. It is often a great andwonderful surprise when you ask those expressing a concern if they can help to identify
solutions. Retired workers, community members, academics, and officials often have accessto creative ideas that nobody had thought of before. These stakeholders can be very importantmembers of problem solving teams. Involving them as outside members of your problem
solving team also builds trust between your business and your stakeholders.
5) Reflect on and continually evaluate your stakeholder process
At this stage, you may consider letting lower level managers who have a talent forcommunication take the lead in the process. As a high level manager or founder-owner, you
may want to step back and listen. This will also model your openness to new ideas andchange within your company.

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation for
the Seven Core
Subjects

EngagingYour
Stakeholders

PublicReporting

4. Plans for
Improvement

Claiming
Credit

4. Plans for Improvement
After you have evaluated your current situation, and engaged your stakeholders in discussion,
you will have many ideas about new ways to build on your achievements. Creating plans foraction is your next step toward improving your corporate social responsibility.
Step 1: Identify key issues and core subjects for your CSR improvements
When doing this, consider the following three factors:
 the impacts of the changes you are considering your capability and resources to carry out thechanges the visibility of the changes you are considering

CSR improvements can involve
making changes in the way you do
business, and/or creating new
projects or products to meet newlydiscovered needs.

Which impacts of your current business activities are most urgent and important for yourcompany to address? Consider the needs of your stakeholders, the potential benefits to yourcompany of addressing these needs, and the potential risks to your company of not addressingthese needs.



Human resources - identify employees and/or potential partners with expertise to address
your specific CSR issues
Financial resources - determine sources and amounts of funding to support your efforts.
Whatever you plan, make sure that you allocate enough resources to carry it out well. It isbetter to start small, and be successful, than to be too ambitious for your current resources.
Community resources - consider involving partners in your supply chain, industry groups,
neighborhood organizations, community infrastructure, etc.

How much visibility will your first CSR efforts receive? People are often inspired to join inonce they see something new and interesting underway and have the chance to learn about it.
Visible improvements can inspire confidence of stakeholders, gain support from within yourown business, and build momentum for future steps. Effective use of visibility will encouragecontinuous and sustainable improvement of CSR in the long run.
Note: Visibility is different from public relations. Simply labeling some projects as “CSR” andpromoting them for advertising purposes is not a true CSR effort, and thus will not achieve thedesired outcomes.
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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation for
the Seven Core
Subjects

EngagingYour
Stakeholders

PublicReporting

4. Plans for
Improvement

Claiming
CreditStep 2: How to choose your first CSR changes
When choosing your first CSR changes, keep in mind that some changes may have substantial
impacts but are beyond your current resources. Other changes may be highly visible to the public
yet bring little impact. For your CSR efforts to be sustainable in their impact, funding andsupport, it is important to consider all three factors of impacts, capability and visibility.
For your first CSR changes, consider choosing one or two issues from the center where the threecriteria overlap. In this way, your first efforts will deliver impacts, be within your capability, andachieve sufficient visibility to publicize and gain support.
Choosing Your First CSR Changes

Candidates for yourfirst CSR changes

Step 3: Draw up your action plan
When you draw up your plan of improvement, be sure to identify the core subject(s) you are addressing explain the goals (impacts) you want to achieve with the plan keep the plan realistic
 allocate enough resources (money, time, people with authority within your organization)
to make it work set a deadline for plan completion and evaluation, including reporting back to yourstakeholders
This plan will become part of future public reports and stakeholder engagement. Your
management team, stakeholders, and attestors can use this to evaluate your commitment tocontinual progress in implementing principles of corporate social responsibility.

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation for
the Seven Core
Subjects

EngagingYour
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

5. Public
Reporting

Claiming
Credit5. Public Reporting
We recommend that your management team begin the public
phase of your ISO 26000 implementation with a report thathonestly and accurately describes your current situation.
This report itself is an act of social responsibility.
a) Creating Your Report
A primary goal for reporting is to publicly establish yourcommitment to social responsibility, regardless of existing
shortcomings. Keep your report brief, accessible and readerfriendly. Identify the audience(s) for your report – see Table
3 “Stakeholder and Core Subject Worksheet,” page 15.

Public reporting is a way toclaim credit for your workon social responsibility. It isalso a way to demonstrate
your respect for yourstakeholders, as you practiceaccountability through yourreporting to them.

Your report should:

Identify your CSR achievements in each of the seven core subjects of ISO 26000. If you
choose not to report on some of the core subjects at this time, give a brief explanation of
why not, and commit to examining this area at a specific time in the future

Establish your credibility by identifying problem areas (not avoiding them)Describe how and when stakeholders have been involved in your work on social
responsibility

Explain plans for improvement in a section such as “the way forward”. In future reports
you can discuss your progress

Attestation
To ensure that your report is credible, we recommend that you involve
third parties. This can include informal ‘attestation’ or written commentsfrom different stakeholder groups (including suppliers and customers),
reports of audits, and certifications such as Fair Trade, ISO 9001, Green
Food, UTZ, etc. ECOLOGIA may be able to provide attestation for yourimplementation efforts in the United States and/or in China.

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation for
the Seven Core
Subjects

EngagingYour
Stakeholdersb) Using Your Report

Plans for
Improvement

5. Public
Reporting

Claiming
CreditFor Your Public Relations and Communications Staff:

At this point in the implementation
process you will have completed apublic report. It can be used to engage
shareholders, investors, customers,
stakeholders and the local community.
It is important to publish or distributethe report in an accessible manner(online; print copies for those who lackelectronic access, etc.)

To establish your credibility as a business striving to achieve
and improve its social responsibility, you and yourmanagement team need to discuss problems, not avoid them.
The CSR report should be an information-sharing andcommunication effort to reach out to and improve
relations with stakeholders. It should not be viewed as
primarily an advertising vehicle. If you have public relations
or marketing personnel, be sure that they understand thesegoals of the CSR report.

The CSR report documents your CSR commitments and improvements over time.
Creating the report provides an opportunity to reflect, evaluate and assess your CSR efforts. At
the same time, you can make suggestions and changes for the years to come. Your CSR reportserves not only for others to understand your business, but also for you to successfully link yourcurrent effort with the future. As shown below, public reporting acts as an important step torenew the cycle.
1. Evaluate
your current
situation

5. Report onyour activities
Makesuggestions
for the nextyears

2. Engage yourstakeholders
for feedback

3. Develop
realistic plansfor
improvement

4. Carry out
your plans;Document theprocess

ECOLOGIA recommends
that you set a two year
time frame to complete
your five-stage cycle. This
will ensure that you areable to focus oncontinuous improvement
in your approach to thecore subjects. Reporting
should not become a costly
or too-frequent burden; itshould be viewed as one
part only of the whole fivestage cycle.

CONGRATULATIONS
After completing the steps above,
you have become an implementer of ISO 26000
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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation for
the Seven Core
Subjects

EngagingYour
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

6. Claiming
Credit6. How to Claim Credit for Your Use of ISO 26000
A. How to communicate your use of ISO 26000
Now that you have implemented ISO 26000, you may want to communicate this fact to yourcustomers, people in your supply chain upstream and downstream, local government officials,
investors, and other stakeholders. ECOLOGIA thinks that it is important to do this. However,
because ISO 26000 is not for certification purposes, ISO is extremely sensitive to any uses of thename “ISO 26000” that could imply that an organization or company has been, or needs to be,certified to the standard.

ISO recommends that business users say,“[Your business name] recognizes ISO 26000 as areference document that provides guidance on social
responsibility.”
and/or“[Your business name] has used ISO 26000 as a guideto integrate social responsibility into our values andpractices.”

We recommend that you claim credit for using ISO 26000, using this wording, in yourcommunications, including: brochures, handouts, posters, etc.
 sustainability and CSR reports
 your website
 any written communications with your stakeholders
 your public reporting (see Section 5)
For more information on ISO’s position on this issue, see
http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/management_and_leadership_standards/social_responsibility/sr_faqs.htm
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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation for
the Seven Core
Subjects

EngagingYour
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

6. Claiming
CreditB. How to utilize your improved CSR status
1) Promote your products and services as “value added”
 Negotiate better contracts and prices
If you are part of a supply chain, discuss your CSR activities with your customers. Explain
how your CSR actions protect and enhance their brand names, and reduce their risk of
product recalls and embarrassing headlines. With confidence, you can negotiate for longer
term contracts, and/or marginally higher prices.
 Develop your own “socially responsible brand name products”
Added value, even a percent or two, can greatly affect your business’s profit margin.
Develop your own product line and “direct market” these products.
 Don’t feel powerless in price negotiations
When pressured to reduce your prices, point out how you have invested in protecting yourcustomers and their supply chain. Point to the “fair sharing” clause in ISO 26000 (Clause
6.6.6.2)
 Ask stakeholders to support your efforts
Ask customers, NGOs, and consumer groups to publicize your corporate responsibility
programs.
 Co-market
Tell your story on the product label. For many customers this will create product loyalty andadd value.
2) Seek support, recognition and flexibility from policy makers and regulators
 Document that you obey local laws, and also document CSR actions that you take that go
beyond local laws to have an even stronger impact.
 When you act to reduce pollution, or to improve other aspects of your business operations,
let local officials know. Ask them for recognition. Since public officials are credited withsolving social problems, they can become your allies.
 Monitoring, testing, and inspections are expensive for everyone. Depending on theregulatory system in place, it may be possible for you to request relief from unnecessary
monitoring because your business is more transparent and responsible through the use of
ISO 26000. Your stakeholders can also help you with assuring buyers and regulators thatyou are being responsible.

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

Your Current
PictureEvaluation for
the Seven Core
Subjects

EngagingYour
Stakeholders

Plans for
Improvement

PublicReporting

6. Claiming
Credit

How CSR can reduce environmental enforcement costs of factories:
an example
Today, good environmental monitoring systems can have sensors that provide thefactory with a continuous flow of environmental emissions data. Providing this realtime data to managers and to regulators means that everyone has more information.
This is far better, and often far less expensive for everyone, than sending inspectors to
the factory every three months and/or requiring written reports.
Under such shared data regimes, reduced paper reporting and reduced inspections
make sense, for two reasons:(1) They save everyone time and money.
(2) Continual monitoring is far more reliable than intermittent visits that invite"turning off the polluting processes when the inspectors visit”, or “midnight dumping”
to avoid being caught.

3) Join, or form, a regional trade association of businesses for social responsibility
You can work together with other CSR businesses to “brand” your local industry cluster orregion as being responsible and trustworthy. You may want to work with your local governmentin creating such a network.
In the state of Vermont, businesses have long recognized that the state “image” or “brand” ofclean air, water and beautiful landscapes is an asset to them. Customers are willing to pay more
for food and other products “made in Vermont”. Protecting and continuously improving the
Vermont brand - including by strengthening environment and health and safety standards - hasbecome a collaborative effort of Vermont business owners, business associations, consumers andpoliticians.

It is said that “a rising tide” lifts all boats. Imagine individual boats stuck in the sand on an
ocean beach. If each boat owner tries to push his or her boat into the distant ocean all alone,
it may be very difficult. But when the “rising tide” comes in, all boats are lifted up.
Promoting your region’s CSR can become such a “rising tide” which strengthens all of its
businesses.

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

PART IIIISO 26000 - THE SEVEN CORE SUBJECTS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
DEFINITIONS, PRINCIPLES, AND ACTION SUGGESTIONS
A note about the action suggestions: most apply to all businesses, but some will be mostappropriate for operations in regions and countries in different stages of development. You
decide which action suggestions in each subject will be most useful for your business.
1. Organizational governanceDefinition and principles:
Organizational governance refers to the way a business is run. The principles are: accountability(making sure that people who act for the business are held responsible for their actions),transparency (openness in explaining how the business operates, makes decisions, handles
money, etc.), ethical conduct (treating others with honesty and fairness), consideration of
stakeholders’ interests, and obeying the laws. Following good governance principles will help
the business to improve its social, environmental and economic “triple bottom line”. This
benefits the business, all of its stakeholders, the natural environment and the community inwhich the business operates.
Action suggestions: Create and model a company culture where the principles are practiced
 Commit to respecting laws, including the responsibility to pay taxes to the government
bodies and communities in which you operate Efficiently use financial, natural and human resources, while ensuring fair representationof historically under-represented groups (including women and racial and ethnic groups)
in senior positions in the organization
 Balance the needs of the business and its stakeholders, including immediate needs, andthose of future generations
 Establish a permanent two-way communication process between the business and its
stakeholders
 Encourage greater participation by employees in decision making on social responsibility
issues Delegate authority proportionately to the responsibilities assumed by each member or
employee of the business Keep track of decisions to ensure they are followed through, and to determine
responsibilities for the results of the business’ activities, either positive or negative
2. Human rights
Definition and principles“Human rights” refers to respectful treatment of all individuals, regardless of any of theirpersonal characteristics, just because they are human beings.
Action suggestions
 Find out about, and identify, human rights impacts related to your business activities.
(This is known as practicing “due diligence” on the issue.)27

Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000


Resolve grievances - Establish fair mechanisms for dealing with human rights grievances
if and when they are raised by your employees and other stakeholders



Help vulnerable groups
Identify the vulnerable groups in your society, and establish mechanisms (hiring practices,etc.) to ensure that your business doesn’t discriminate against them or take unfair
advantage of them. Vulnerable groups in a particular society can include women, people
with disabilities, children, indigenous peoples, and migrant workers and their families.
Other characteristics that can make people vulnerable include race, color, age, marital
status and family relationships, language, religion, political or other opinion, national,
ethnic or social origin, and HIV/AIDS.

Work to give all people equal opportunities and equal treatment as your employees,
customers, business partners, etc.

Protect yourself and consider human rights impacts if you operate in “risk situations”.
Risk situations include:a) conflict or extreme political instabilityb) poverty, drought or natural disastersc) involvement in extractive activities or other activities that might significantly affectnatural resources (water, forests, land, atmosphere) or disrupt communitiesd) operating near communities of indigenous peoples, so that you may alter the naturalenvironment and land-use practices that they depend on for survivald) activities that affect or involve childrene) the widespread expectation that you will need to pay bribes and/or break laws in orderto operate (corruption)f) complex supply chains that involve work performed on an informal basis without
legal protection
For those who are operating under any or all of these conditions, it is important toconsider potential impacts on human rights, and to plan to have a positive, not negative,
impact on the vulnerable people.



Respect civil and political rights - Respect individuals’ rights to freedom of opinion andexpression, to peaceful assembly and association, to seek and impart information, to due
process and a fair hearing before taking disciplinary measures

Respect economic, social and cultural rights - Respect individuals’ rights to health,education, food and culture. Businesses can identify ways they can act to improvevulnerable people’s access to these.

Avoid complicity with human rights violations
Complicity means staying silent and benefiting while knowing that abuses are being
carried out by others you are doing business with. Avoid complicity by making your best
efforts to find out how people are treated by other businesses in your supply chain / value
chain. Take measures to prevent cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and the use ofexcessive force by those you do business with, or else stop doing business with them.

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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000
Human Rights Issues - An Example from Kenya:
Complicity has been a particular problem for organizations that hire security forces which abuse people. For
example, a Kenyan pineapple company plantation farm in 2005 used vicious guard dogs against local poor
people who were stealing the pineapples. When some people were badly mauled by the dogs, and it got into thenews, the buyers of the pineapples (European chain stores) literally took all that company’s cans off their store
shelves, and suspended payments and purchases until the Kenyan company worked out a more humane way tosecure the plantation.

3. Labor practices
Definition and principles
Labor practices refer to fair treatment of all workers, including those who are sub-contracted
rather than being regular employees. Labor practices include hiring and promotion of workers;
disciplinary and grievance procedures; transfer and relocation of workers; termination of
employment; training and skills development; health, safety and industrial hygiene, and any
policy or practice affecting conditions at work. Labor practices also include recognition ofworker organizations and participation in collective bargaining, including tripartite (business –workers – government) consultation to address social issues related to employment.
Human labor is not a commodity; because workers are human beings, they need protection, andtheir treatment should not be governed by the same market forces that apply to commodities.
Action suggestions: Recognize that employment relationships involve rights and obligations
Fulfill all legal obligations to workers; eliminate discrimination in hiring and dismissals.
Avoid contracting with partners, suppliers or sub-contractors who use unfair, exploitative or
abusive labor practices.
Where operating internationally, give priority to the employment and advancement of
nationals of the host country, including sourcing and distributing through local enterprises
where practical.
 Provide good conditions of work and social protection
Comply with national laws and regulations; provide decent conditions of work in wages,
hours of work, weekly rest holidays, health and safety, and maternity protection.
Pay wages directly to workers.
 Support social dialogue
Social dialogue involves negotiations, consultations and information exchanges between
employers and employees. Depending on the size of the company, this can involve
independently elected worker representatives or trade unions; it can also involve government
where broader issues are at stake.
 Promote and maintain health and safety at work
Understand and control the health and safety risks involved in activities.
Have a “safety first” policy; provide safety equipment and training needed for prevention ofoccupational diseases, accidents, and dealing with emergencies.
 Encourage human development
Provide skills development and career training opportunities.
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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000
3. Labor practices, continued
 Encourage human development, continued
Respect the family responsibilities of workers by providing reasonable working hours andpolicies and facilities (such as child care facilities and parental leave) that can help workers
achieve a work-life balance
Establish joint labor-management programs that promote health and well-being.
4. Environment
Definition and principles
Since our lives depend on the natural environment, people and businesses have the responsibility
to act to reduce damage to the environment, and to improve conditions of air, soil, water, andecosystems. Businesses should incorporate these four principles when working to improve theirenvironmental impact:
Environmental responsibility – accept responsibility for the environmental burdens caused byyour activities, products and services; act to improve your own performance and that within yoursphere of influence
Precautionary approach – When there are threats of serious damage to the environment or tohuman health, you should not wait for total certainty before taking measures to avoid or limit thedamage. When carrying out human health and environmental risk assessments, it is better to err
on the side of caution rather than doing harm and waiting to see if you will be held accountable.
Environmental risk management – implement programs to assess and reduce environmental risks
from activities, products and services, from a life-cycle perspective.
Polluter pays – each business should bear the cost of pollution caused by its activities, products
and services; the business should internalize the cost of pollution (pay for cleaning up its
discharge itself, for example, not dump it into the public air or water). There are many economic,
environmental and reputational benefits of preventing pollution rather than waiting until damage
has been done to human health and to the environment.
Action suggestions: Prevent pollution, or reduce emissions of pollutants into the air, water and soil as much as
possible Use sustainable, renewable resources wherever possible
 Act to limit greenhouse gas emissions, which cause climate change; consider ways toreduce and adapt to the climate change that is already occurring Protect and restore the natural environment
 Conserve water in business operations
 Practice life-cycle management – consider all the steps of a manufacturing process, andall the links in the supply chain and value chain right to the end of a product’s life andhow it is disposed of; look for ways to make these steps as environmentally friendly as
possible Look for cleaner and more energy-efficient production techniques
 Use environmentally sound technologies and practices
 Practice environmental procurement – evaluate suppliers of goods and services onwhether they also are environmentally friendly30

Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

5. Fair operating practices
Definition and principles
Businesses can use their relationships with other businesses to promote positive outcomes. Bybuilding good long-term relationships, businesses are most likely to develop reliable partners,
and to practice effective social responsibility. Respect for the rule of law, accountability,transparency, and honesty are the key principles to put into action to achieve fair operating
practices.
Action suggestions:
Practice honesty in business dealings
 Don’t ask for or accept bribes
 Don’t attempt to break laws through use of political influence
Promote social responsibility throughout your value chain/ supply chain; and stimulate demand
for socially responsible goods and services
 In procurement and purchasing decisions, use criteria that select socially responsible
products and companies
 Examine your value chain/supply chain and be sure that you are paying enough to enable
your suppliers to fulfill their own responsibilities
 Promote broader adoption of social responsibility through networks of colleagues
 Treat suppliers and customers/consumers fairly, including prompt payment of bills andprompt attention to problems
Respect property rights
 Avoid counterfeiting or piracy
 Pay fair compensation for property you acquire or use
 Conduct investigations to be sure that you have legitimate ownership before you
use or dispose of property

6. Consumer issues
Definition and principles: Businesses have responsibilities to their consumers, such as truthful
advertising and marketing, providing clear and helpful user information, minimizing risks fromuse of products or services, and providing support services and recall procedures. Stimulating
sustainable consumption and respecting consumer rights are aspects of social responsibility.
Satisfied consumers will strengthen the reputation of a business.
Action suggestions:Promote sustainable consumption
Offer consumers socially and environmentally beneficial products and services
Offer products and services that operate as efficiently as possible, considering the full life
cycle
Breed animals in a way that respects their physical integrity and avoids cruelty
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Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000

6. Consumer issues, continued










Eliminate or minimize negative health and environmental impacts of products andservices, such as noise and waste
Design products so that they can easily be reused, repaired or recycled
Reduce waste by minimizing packaging material and, if appropriate, offer recycling anddisposal services
Provide consumer service, support and dispute resolution
Protect consumer privacy when handling personal data
Implement fair marketing and advertising practices (be honest)
Provide clear and sufficient information about prices, terms, conditions and costs
Protect consumers’ health and safety; design and test products to ensure thisPay particular attention to the information needs of vulnerable individuals (for example,
those with physical or mental disabilities including limited vision or hearing, or poor
reading ability)

7. Community involvement and development
Definition and principles: All businesses should recognize their long-term interest in thesustainability of the communities in which they operate. Every business is a stakeholder in its
community; it depends on the community and also affects its development. By providing
employment, all businesses can make an important contribution to reducing poverty andpromoting economic development.
Action suggestions:
Community involvement
 Respect the laws and practices of the community; Join associations and work with groups and individuals for the common good;
maintain transparent and honest relations with government officials
Social investment (building infrastructure; improving social aspects of community life) Assess existing community-related initiatives, identify ways to improve
 Focus philanthropic activities (grants, volunteering and donations) on giving resources tothe community through programs or projects for long-term development; avoid creating
community dependence on a business’ philanthropic activities
 Broaden opportunities for community members, for example by increasing local
procurement and hiring
Employment creation
 Consider the impact of investment and out-sourcing decisions on employment creation;
when possible, make decisions to maximize local employment opportunities
Technology development
 Where appropriate, engage in partnerships with local organizations (universities or
research laboratories) and engage in scientific and technological development withpartners from the local community, employing local people in this work32

Handbook for Implementers of ISO 26000
7. Community involvement and development, continued

Where economically feasible, adopt practices that allow technology transfer and diffusion,
set reasonable terms and conditions for licenses so as to contribute to long-term local
development

Wealth and income
 Engage in commercial relations only with suppliers that operate under legally recognizedframeworks, wherever possible; in situations of poverty and low levels of development
where suppliers have difficulty in meeting legal requirements, work with them to movetoward conducting activities within the appropriate legal framework Use natural resources in a sustainable way that helps to alleviate poverty
 Obtain prior informed consent of the local community for the use of local natural
resources; respect the traditional use of natural resources by local populations, especiallyindigenous peoples
 Give preference to local suppliers of goods and services
 Fulfill tax responsibilities as described in law, and provide the authorities with thenecessary information to correctly determine taxes
Education and culture Promote cultural activities; respect and value the local culture and cultural traditions; Support education at all levels; engage in actions to improve educational quality, topromote local knowledge and eradicate illiteracy
 Encourage the enrollment of children in formal education; contribute to the elimination of
barriers to children obtaining an education
Health Promote good health by contributing to access to medicines and vaccinations, and byencouraging healthy lifestyles and discouraging the consumption of unhealthy substances Raise awareness about major diseases and their prevention, such as cancer, heart diseases,
malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis
 Support access to essential health care services, to clean water and appropriate sanitation
 Seek to minimize or eliminate the negative health impacts of any products or services
provided by your businessResponsible investment - This section refers to traditional capital investments by businesses, andalso to projects that may be identified, funded and/or managed by other groups such as nongovernmental organizations.
 Incorporate consideration of the economic, social, environmental and governancedimensions of an investment, in addition to the traditional financial dimensions
 Develop and disclose an active ownership or governance policy to be applied to yourinvestments, including principles of social responsibility
 Seek to make positive social, economic and cultural contributions to communities when
making investment decisions.
[End of Part III: Seven Core Subjects]

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