ISO 26000 — Setting a new standard for guidance on social responsibility?

With leadership team of ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Working Group

Next year the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) is scheduled to release the 26000 Standard- its first ever guidance on social responsibility.

The product of 5 years work and the efforts of hundreds of experts from around the world, the new standard has the potential to re-shape the CSR landscape.

Questions many organisations are already asking include:

• what issues does the new ISO standard cover?
• what value could it add?
• how does it relate to existing ISO standards (e.g. 14000 series)?
• can I use it in conjunction with other CSR instruments (e.g. GRI, Global Compact)?

A founding expert in the negotiating process representing GRI, Paul Hohnen offers a unique first-hand insight into the history of the standard and its implications for all organisations — business, governmental and civil society. Hohnen has been a regular contributor to Ethical Corporation on the emerging standard.

With Cornis van der Lugt (UNEP) and Bill Blackburn (GRI), September 2008	Press commentary, May 2009

Working alone and with other international experts, Hohnen has delivered lectures and workshops around the world on the possible implications of ISO 26000.

• In Australia, he works with Dr Leeora Black at the Australian Centre for CSR
• In the EU, he works with Hans Kröder at Learn2improve your planet